West Midlands Police have provided fresh information regarding the brutal rape attack in Oldbury, following widespread frustration over the ten-week-old investigation’s lack of progress in delivering justice for the victim.
Community leaders have voiced ongoing concerns, highlighting “unanswered questions” and fearing the police may be showing complacency in the case. However, the police insist they are fully committed, dedicating hundreds of hours to the investigation in an effort to identify and prosecute the perpetrators.
The victim, a woman in her 20s of Sikh heritage, was assaulted on September 9 at approximately 8:30 a.m. while walking to work near Tame Road parkland in Oldbury. According to reports, two white men were involved, with one allegedly making a racist remark before fleeing. The police have classified the attack as “racially aggravated” due to this behavior.
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The incident has sparked national attention and heightened local fears of racially motivated violence targeting young women, particularly women of color. Despite initial appeals, police have released limited new information until recently, responding to inquiries by Birmingham Live.
For the first time, authorities disclosed that the victim immediately called a family member after the attack, who then assisted her and alerted the police. The victim visited a hospital afterward as a precaution, sustaining facial injuries described by police as “thankfully not serious.”
Police have reviewed extensive CCTV footage from the area, identifying multiple individuals who have been questioned and cleared. Dozens of evidence pieces are being examined forensically, with results still pending. Investigators have also conducted witness appeals, door-to-door inquiries, and revisits to the scene in their ongoing effort to gather information.
Three arrests have been made during the investigation, but no one has been charged. Those released on bail include a 31-year-old man and a man and woman arrested earlier in connection with a separate reported rape in Halesowen.
Critics, including Jas Singh of the Sikh Federation, argue the police have yet to provide a clear timeline or reconstruction that might help jog memories or reveal the assailants’ whereabouts. Singh called for intensified efforts to review all local CCTV and expedite forensic results, warning against complacency.
The police reaffirm that the victim remains at the center of their inquiries and that they continue to offer her appropriate support. They have also held important meetings with community leaders to address concerns and reassure women in the area.
Support for the victim and her family has come from Sikh Youth UK, the Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick, and specialist counselors. At a public meeting, Kaldip Singh Lelal, a Sikh Youth UK founder, conveyed the horror of witnessing the victim’s injuries and emphasized the brutal nature of the attack.
Representatives from the Sikh Federation highlighted previous issues with how law enforcement has handled serious crimes involving Sikh victims but stressed that this case is being treated with utmost seriousness. Detectives, including those experienced in murder investigations, and forensic teams have been assigned to the case.
Descriptions of the attackers include one man with a shaved head, heavy build, dark sweatshirt, and gloves; the other wearing a grey top with a silver zip. The police have established a public portal encouraging residents to submit any dashcam or doorbell footage from the area on the day of the assault.
Crimestoppers is offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. A petition advocating for the installation of CCTV and improved lighting in the attack location has also been launched, garnering nearly 800 signatures.