Crime

Friday, April 17, 2026 guatemala travel warning safety crime border police prevention violence security

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued an urgent travel warning for Guatemala following the announcement of a 15-day ‘State of Prevention’ effective from 6 April 2026. This emergency measure is … Read More

Sunday, April 12, 2026 scam giftcards fraud westmidlands police crime retailers scamsafety victims prevention

Police in the West Midlands are sounding the alarm over a rise in scams involving gift cards, which are being used by criminals to defraud unsuspecting individuals out of their money. Despite efforts by retailers to protect … Read More

Sunday, April 12, 2026 truecrime forensics bbc investigation westmidlands police documentary crime forensicteam chilling

The BBC’s award-winning true crime documentary series, Forensics: The Real CSI, returns tonight with another harrowing episode based on a real investigation by West Midlands Police. Known for its raw and immersive … Read More

Friday, April 10, 2026 birmingham asylum threat machete standoff handsworth brivett prison police crime

Joshua Brivett has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison following a disturbing incident in Birmingham. Brivett threatened an asylum seeker with a machete, sparking a tense three-hour standoff on a rooftop in …

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 asylum drugs crime immigration albania midlands cocaine deportation prison law

Mariglen Malaj, a 26-year-old asylum seeker from Albania, has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for operating a cocaine distribution network in Rugeley, Staffordshire. Undercover police officers apprehended him … Read More

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 police assault birmingham broadstreet investigation suspect cctv safety women crime

West Midlands Police are appealing for assistance after a woman was sexually assaulted in a bar on Birmingham’s Broad Street. The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, February 15, and no arrests have been made so … Read More

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 handsworth assault weapon baseballbat disorder fight selfdefense court crime shopworker

Mathanraj Viveganandan, a 36-year-old married man known for his good character, found himself in court after a confrontation erupted near his mother’s corner shop in Handsworth. On the evening of March 12, a disturbance … Read More

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 westmidlands police informants covert intelligence chis funding crime transparency security

West Midlands Police have disclosed spending more than £1.25 million on payments to informants over a five-year period from 2020 to 2025. These payments were made to Covert Human Intelligence Sources (CHIS), key players in … Read More

Monday, April 6, 2026 crime birmingham sentencing driving childabduction assault drugs violence theft stalking

March 2026 saw a string of brutal crimes and reckless acts in Birmingham, resulting in multiple offenders being sentenced to immediate imprisonment. This month’s cases reveal heart-wrenching stories, from mothers who … Read More

Sunday, April 5, 2026 forensics truecrime crime bbc police investigation documentary westmidlands serial justice

The much-acclaimed BBC true crime documentary, Forensics: The Real CSI, has returned with its sixth thrilling series. While no new episode will air tonight, the series continues to captivate audiences with its unique focus on … Read More

Sunday, April 5, 2026 birmingham handsworth samurai weapon possession police arrest sword crime safety

A Birmingham man has pleaded guilty to possessing a samurai sword at his home in Handsworth. The weapon was discovered by police officers during an investigation related to an unrelated incident. Authorities confirmed that …

Saturday, April 4, 2026 birmingham crash stolen speeding fordfocus conviction sentencing recklessdriving fatality crime

Rhemeese Lawrence-Hayden has been sentenced to 14 years in prison following a tragic car crash in Bournville in October 2022 that claimed the life of his best friend, David Brennan. Lawrence-Hayden was driving a stolen Ford … Read More

Friday, April 3, 2026 dudley community antisocial volunteers crime safety council champions housing asb sport

Dudley Council is set to launch a new initiative enlisting ‘community champions’ to help report antisocial behaviour (ASB) as part of a broader crime reduction strategy. This measure is detailed in the council’s recently … Read More

Friday, April 3, 2026 suttoncoldfield fraud gold scam investment crime conviction legal financialcrime defrauded

Steven Porter, a 43-year-old man from Sutton Coldfield, has been sentenced for defrauding a woman out of £136,000 in a sophisticated gold scam. Porter admitted to fraud by false representation, deceiving his victim with … Read More

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 arrest westmidlands murder plot police investigation child crime youth suspect

An 11-year-old boy was recently arrested in the West Midlands in connection with an alleged murder plot. This arrest marks one of the youngest detentions by police in the area over the last 12 months, involving a crime of a … Read More

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 fcdo southafrica travelwarning crime capetown roadsafety drugs cannabis tourism airports

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has released an important advisory for UK travelers heading to South Africa, highlighting increased safety risks and stringent drug regulations. Recent reports … Read More

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 theft motorbike castlebromwich crime bikers yamaha security westmidlands police breaking

A daring daylight theft unfolded on Saturday, March 28, when a gang of masked thieves broke into a Midland residence on Water Orton Road, Castle Bromwich. Arriving on two mopeds with two accomplices on foot, the group forced … Read More

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 burglary bakery westmidlands staffordshire crime cctv theft police investigation brewood

Staffordshire Police have issued CCTV images of a man wanted in connection with a burglary at a bakery in the West Midlands. The break-in occurred at a business on Stafford Street in Brewood, South Staffordshire, during the … Read More

Monday, March 30, 2026 midland laser police aircraft dazzling npas law crime sentencing telford

A Midland man, Reed Beers, has been sentenced for deliberately shining a laser at a police aircraft involved in responding to a suspected gunman. On March 10, the 60-year-old from Old Office Road, Dawley, aimed a green laser … Read More

Monday, March 30, 2026 birmingham assault sexualassault crime forensic investigation police court offender justice

An 11-year-old girl from Birmingham has courageously recounted the terrifying night a stranger broke into her father’s home and sexually assaulted her. Staying at her dad’s house over the weekend as usual, she woke to find a … Read More

Sunday, March 29, 2026 forensics truecrime westmidlands police investigation documentary crime lawenforcement bbc series

The critically acclaimed true crime documentary series, Forensics: The Real CSI, widely praised as one of the best programmes on television, returns with a chilling new episode tonight. Now into its sixth series on BBC Two, … Read More

Sunday, March 29, 2026 reckless driving stolen crime fatality bournville sentencing friendship law epilepsy

In a tragic case that highlights the dangers of reckless driving, Rhemeese Lawrence-Hayden, 27, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for causing the death of his best friend, David Brennan, 26. The fatal crash occurred in … Read More

Saturday, March 28, 2026 dudley highstreet regeneration retail westmidlands decline shopping revitalization crime infrastructure

Traders on Dudley’s historic High Street are calling for urgent action to revive the area as footfall continues to decline and anti-social behaviour rises. In the first article of a series examining High Streets across the … Read More

Friday, March 27, 2026 wolverhampton shoplifting theft retail crime westmidlands security community policing prevention

Wolverhampton has earned a troubling reputation as the shoplifting capital of the West Midlands, recording more than 104 offences per 10,000 people. This high rate of retail theft has raised concerns among local businesses, … Read More