Westmidlands

Saturday, February 7, 2026 smethwick ghanaian restaurant licensing police fireservice westmidlands council safety music

The future of Kotoburaba, a new Ghanaian restaurant in Claremont Road, Cape Hill, Smethwick, is set to be determined at an upcoming licensing hearing following objections from regional emergency services. Sandwell Council’s … Read More

Saturday, February 7, 2026 fibbersley willenhall petrolstation timecapsule westmidlands abandoned heritage retro motorists nostalgia

Nestled along a quiet West Midlands road, the Fibbersley petrol station remains a striking relic of the past. Once a bustling hub for motorists, the garage now stands abandoned, its weathered facade a silent testament to a … Read More

Friday, February 6, 2026 rain forecast metoffice ukweather winter flooding heavyshowers westmidlands southwestengland weatherwarning

The UK is facing an unrelenting spell of wet and cloudy weather, with parts of the country experiencing daily rain since the start of the year. Forecasters from the Met Office have issued a bleak outlook, stating there is … Read More

Friday, February 6, 2026 birmingham airport newyork flights westmidlands airlines travel investment transport us

Birmingham Airport is gearing up to reinstate direct flights to New York, targeting summer 2027 for daily scheduled services as part of a multi-million dollar investment to attract airlines. Direct routes from Birmingham to … Read More

Thursday, February 5, 2026 m6 birmingham crash collision traffic motorway westmidlands police nationalhighways roadsafety

A multi-vehicle collision on the M6 near Birmingham caused significant delays on one of the busiest motorways in the region. West Midlands Police, assisted by National Highways traffic officers, promptly responded to the … Read More

Thursday, February 5, 2026 westmidlands policefunding counciltax underfunding crimepanel budget policeofficers fundingformula publicsafety governmentgrants

West Midlands Police leaders have voiced growing frustration over the persistent underfunding of the force, highlighting that current government grant formulas shortchange them by around £43 million each year — equivalent to … Read More

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 dudley transport busstation interchange metro construction traders accessibility infrastructure westmidlands

The opening of the much-anticipated £24 million Dudley bus station, known as the Dudley Interchange, has been delayed until the autumn of 2024. Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) recently confirmed the new facility will not … Read More

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 burglary dudley bar crime police theft damage investigation westmidlands geez

A break-in at GeeZ bar in King Street, Dudley, on Monday, January 26, resulted in approximately £8,000 worth of damage. The incident saw fire doors smashed and CCTV cameras forcibly removed, while a few bottles of alcohol … Read More

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 westmidlands police hatecrime maccabi astonvilla accountability antisemitism trust leadership policing

West Midlands Police leadership have reiterated their commitment to restoring public trust after the contentious decision to ban Israeli football supporters from a match in Birmingham. Police and Crime Commissioner Simon … Read More

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 fugitive police birmingham violentdisorder arrest escape sentencing investigation westmidlands search

Ellen Sweeney, a mother of twelve, remains a fugitive as West Midlands Police persist in their search for her following a violent altercation in Birmingham’s Gay Village in July 2023. The incident, widely described as one of … Read More

Monday, February 2, 2026 westmidlands buscrime number74 violence theft publictransport safety westbromwich birmingham dudley sport

A popular West Midlands bus route has been identified as the most dangerous in the region, recording the highest number of criminal offences on board. The notorious Number 74 service, which runs between Birmingham and Dudley … Read More

Sunday, February 1, 2026 westmidlands breakfastclubs freemeals education dfe schoolprograms childwellbeing attendance government parentsupport

Thousands of children across Birmingham and the wider West Midlands region will soon enjoy free breakfasts at school, thanks to the launch of 84 new breakfast clubs. According to the Department for Education (DfE), around … Read More

Sunday, February 1, 2026 snowfall england midlands westmidlands winter weather forecast metoffice february cold

Weather forecasts indicate that up to 21 counties across England may experience snow on Friday, February 6. A widespread snow cover extending roughly 245 miles is predicted to affect various regions, with particular attention … Read More

Sunday, February 1, 2026 midlands speeding 20mph zones fines drivers westmidlands safety enforcement residential

Drivers across the West Midlands have been surprised to find speeding fines in the post despite travelling at speeds under 30mph. Many were caught exceeding the 20mph limits set in certain zones, particularly residential … Read More

Sunday, February 1, 2026 lifespan westmidlands bromsgrove sandwell wolverhampton ons postcode health longevity statistics

New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) highlights significant differences in average life expectancy across towns in the West Midlands. The analysis shows that where you live can have a major impact on how … Read More

Sunday, February 1, 2026 birmingham police officer assault domestic violence grossmisconduct dismissal protectionorder westmidlands

A Birmingham police officer has been dismissed without notice after she punched her boyfriend and grabbed his throat during a heated argument at his home. PC Furlong, who was off-duty and had been drinking, momentarily lost … Read More

Saturday, January 31, 2026 measles vaccination mmr westmidlands birmingham publichealth ukhsa immunity outbreaks children

A concerning decline in vaccination rates has led to the resurgence of measles in the UK, with the West Midlands emerging as a significant hotspot. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, uptake of the MMR vaccine among young … Read More

Saturday, January 31, 2026 westmidlands mostwanted fugitives police crime appeal drugdealer burglary assault publicsafety

West Midlands Police have long maintained a most wanted list featuring individuals sought for serious crimes. While many are apprehended following public tips or increased pressure, some suspects remain elusive, with their … Read More

Saturday, January 31, 2026 birmingham crime violence lozells aston police offences handsworth southyardley westmidlands

Recent analysis of West Midlands Police crime data for 2025 has identified Birmingham’s most dangerous streets, highlighting where the highest numbers of serious crimes occur. These offenses include severe acts such as … Read More

Friday, January 30, 2026 transport safety women trains publicownership westmidlands britishtransportpolice railfares punctuality government sport

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has declared improving safety for women and girls on public transport a central government priority. Speaking during her visit to Wolverhampton Railway Station, she highlighted the upcoming … Read More

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 westmidlands stopandsearch policing disproportionality ethnicity useofforce bodywornvideo transparency communityfeedback simonfoster

Black and ethnic minority individuals in the West Midlands remain significantly more likely to be subjected to stop and search by local police, according to the latest annual report from West Midlands Police and Crime … Read More

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 chainsaw assault dogwalker solihull whitsey attack prison westmidlands wounding crime

A man from Solihull has been sentenced to prison after attempting to attack a dog walker with a chainsaw. The incident took place on May 28, 2025, near Gospel Lane and Brookvale Road, Olton, while the victim was walking his … Read More

Tuesday, January 27, 2026 westmidlands hatecrime policing antisemitism communitytrust football maccabitelaviv operationstrive policeaccountability ai sport

West Midlands Police’s new acting chief constable, Scott Green, has vowed to repair the damage caused by the controversial ban on Israeli football fans at a recent match in Birmingham. The incident has strained relations … Read More

Tuesday, January 27, 2026 westmidlands emergencycalls responsetimes 999calls 101calls callhandling publicsafety policeservice efficiency customerservice

West Midlands Police has made remarkable strides in improving its emergency call response times, according to recent data outlined in the annual report by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster. The report … Read More