Pulse

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  • Pulse West Midlands headlines: 12 February 2026

    Pulse West Midlands headlines: 12 February 2026

    Four West Midlands Police updates published on 11 February 2026: an investigation into disorder in Bearwood, a teenager charged after a machete attack in Shirley, five arrests after a Kingstanding raid, and an ongoing appeal after a high-value precious metal robbery in Dudley.

    Bearwood disorder investigation

    Police are investigating reports of disorder on Bearwood Road in Bearwood, reported shortly before 6pm on 11 February. Officers put a cordon in place during the response.

    Police report two men later went to hospital and a third was taken to hospital by ambulance, with injuries being assessed at the time of the update.

    Three men were arrested on suspicion of assault. Anyone with information or footage is asked to quote log 4666 of 11 February.

    Shirley machete attack – 16-year-old charged (Birmingham)

    A 16-year-old boy has been charged in connection with a machete attack outside a shop on Stratford Road, Shirley, at around 9pm on 7 February.

    Police report three boys were attacked. Two boys aged 15 and 14 were taken to hospital with injuries believed to have been caused by a machete. Police said one boy had life-changing injuries and remained in hospital at the time of the update, while the second boy was back home. Another boy aged 15 was assaulted but did not go to hospital.

    The 16-year-old is charged with two counts of attempted murder, plus assault and possession of a bladed article. He cannot be named for legal reasons. Police said he was remanded in custody and was set to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court on 11 February.

    Police said three other boys arrested in connection with the incident were bailed pending further enquiries. Anyone with information, including dashcam or mobile phone footage, is asked to quote crime number 20/140175/26.

    Kingstanding raid – drugs and ammunition seized (Birmingham)

    Police say officers executed a warrant at an address on Tresham Road, Kingstanding, on 11 February, and seized suspected Class A drugs and ammunition.

    Police report two bullets were recovered and were due to be forensically examined. Five people were arrested: a 31-year-old man on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs and firearms offences, and four others on suspicion of firearms offences, including boys aged 14 and 16 and men aged 19 and 20. Police said they were in custody for questioning at the time of the update.

    Dudley precious metal robbery – appeal continues

    Police are continuing to appeal for information after a high-value precious metal robbery at a unit on Birmingham New Road, Dudley, at 4.20pm on 8 February.

    Police report three men aged 75, 79 and 84 were injured and were not seriously hurt. A large quantity of collectible gold and silver coins was stolen, mainly boxed Royal Mint coins in presentation boxes with proof of authenticity.

    Police are also seeking anyone who saw a grey or silver Mitsubishi Outlander before or after the incident time and date. Anyone who can help is asked to quote crime reference 20/141018/26.

    How to pass on information

    West Midlands Police asks the public to contact them via 101 or the Live Chat option on their website, quoting the relevant log or crime reference number. For the Shirley and Dudley cases, the force also references Crimestoppers for anonymous reports.

  • Dudley ice rink project “major step forward” as plans progress

    Dudley ice rink project “major step forward” as plans progress

    Dudley Council says plans for a new ice rink have moved forward, with an operator lined up and a report going to councillors.

    Dudley’s proposed ice rink has moved a step closer, with the council confirming progress and pointing to a formal decision due at a public meeting.

    In an update published on 10 February 2026, Dudley Council describes the project as a “major step forward” and says it is moving towards delivery.

    What the council is proposing

    The council’s plan is for a new ice rink in Dudley town centre, tied to wider regeneration aims.

    Dudley Council states it has secured an operator, Planet Ice, and that a report is due to go to the council’s Cabinet meeting on 11 February 2026.

    The council’s update links the project to town-centre footfall and a broader plan to bring more evening activity into Dudley.

    Where it would go

    The council’s previous project updates have pointed to Flood Street, Dudley, as the location, with plans for an arena-style venue intended to host ice sport and other events.

    That location matters because it is right in the zone Dudley has been trying to reshape, alongside other schemes intended to make the town centre feel like a destination rather than a pass-through.

    What we know about timings and delivery

    Earlier council updates have suggested a longer runway, with work on design, procurement and approvals shaping when it can open.

    In a previous progress statement, Dudley Council indicated the rink could open by late 2027, subject to approvals and delivery stages. That is not a guarantee. It is the council putting a marker down.

    Why this matters locally

    For Dudley, this is not just about skating.

    If it happens, it can pull in weekend visitors, create jobs, and give the town centre another reason for people to stay later. It can also feed nearby businesses. Food, taxis, bars, and the boring-but-real economy of a busy evening.

    But leisure-led regeneration also has a track record of overpromising. The honest test is whether the numbers add up and whether it becomes a real draw, not a shiny building that struggles after launch.

    What happens next

    The next concrete step is the Cabinet decision stage, followed by any planning and delivery updates that come after.

    If the council publishes the Cabinet report and business case in full, that will be where the real details sit: costs, funding sources, delivery risks, and the operator deal.

  • Police appeal to trace car after high value Dudley robbery

    Police appeal to trace car after high value Dudley robbery

    Police are trying to trace a grey/silver Mitsubishi Outlander after a robbery involving precious metals at a unit on Birmingham New Road. Three men were injured but not seriously, officers say.

    West Midlands Police are appealing for help to trace a vehicle after a “high value” robbery in Dudley.

    The force says three men were injured during a robbery at a unit on Birmingham New Road on 8 February 2026 at 4.20pm. Police state the injuries were not serious.

    The vehicle police want to find

    Police are seeking information about a grey/silver Mitsubishi Outlander, which they have pictured in their appeal.

    Officers want to hear from anyone who saw the vehicle before or after the incident, anyone who was in the area at the time, or anyone with CCTV or other footage that could help.

    How to report information

    West Midlands Police are asking people to contact them on 101 or via their website live chat, quoting crime reference 20/141018/26.

    They also point to Crimestoppers for anonymous reporting.

    Why this is still live

    This is an active investigation. The key public-facing need is sightings and footage, not commentary.

    If you were driving along Birmingham New Road around the time given, dashcam clips can matter even if they look boring at first glance.

  • Birmingham “Knowledge Quarter” street upgrades consultation remains open

    Birmingham “Knowledge Quarter” street upgrades consultation remains open

    Birmingham City Council is consulting on changes to streets around the “Knowledge Quarter”, with proposals aimed at walking, cycling and public transport. The consultation closes on 1 March 2026.

    Credit: Birmingham Knowledge Quarter

    A public consultation is open on proposed street and transport changes around Birmingham’s “Knowledge Quarter”, a city-centre area that includes major universities, hospitals and the HS2 Curzon Street zone.

    Birmingham City Council’s BeHeard consultation page confirms the scheme is focused on making it easier to move around on foot, by bike and via public transport, and reducing through-traffic in key spots.

    The consultation opened on 2 February 2026 and is due to close on 1 March 2026.

    What the council is proposing

    The council’s published summary lists a package of measures, including:

    • New and improved crossings and junction changes.
    • Changes intended to make bus journeys more reliable.
    • Segregated cycle routes in parts of the area.
    • Public realm changes to improve the feel and safety of streets.

    The council frames it as an “accessibility improvements” scheme, and links it to investment and development pressures around the city centre.

    Where it covers

    The “Knowledge Quarter” label is used for a chunk of the city centre that includes key institutions and routes. That is why this consultation matters even if you never use the phrase yourself.

    If you travel through the city centre for work, appointments, or the rail network, changes to junctions and crossings can alter journey times, bus reliability, and how traffic loads onto surrounding roads.

    The stakes for ordinary movement

    Street schemes can be brilliant or a mess. Often both, depending on whether you are walking, driving, cycling, taking a bus, or trying to do all four in the same week.

    The only fair way to judge this consultation is to look at the exact drawings and the impact assessment the council has published, then pressure-test the claimed benefits against likely trade-offs.

    How to take part

    The consultation runs through Birmingham City Council’s BeHeard platform. The council is inviting feedback before the 1 March 2026 closing date.

  • Birmingham mosque worker jailed after child sexual abuse campaign

    Birmingham mosque worker jailed after child sexual abuse campaign

    West Midlands Police say a former agency worker at a Birmingham mosque has been jailed for 16 years for rape and sexual abuse offences against children, with victims as young as nine.

    A man has been jailed for 16 years after being convicted of rape and sexual abuse offences against children in Birmingham.

    West Midlands Police describe the offending as a “campaign” of abuse and confirm the victims included children as young as nine.

    The force’s court outcome update was published on 10 February 2026.

    What is confirmed

    Police confirm the offender was a former agency worker at a mosque in Birmingham.

    The force does not name the mosque in its public update. Pulse Local will not add identifying details that are not clearly and lawfully published, particularly in cases involving child victims.

    The sentence length and the fact of conviction are clear. This is not an allegation. It is a court outcome.

    Why this case matters beyond one offender

    Cases like this do lasting damage because they hit trust as well as victims.

    Places used by families and children rely on safeguarding rules working in practice, not just sitting in a policy folder. Agency and temporary work arrangements can add risk if oversight is weak, although this case turns on criminal acts by an individual, not a press-release debate about systems.

    What happens next

    The offender begins a long prison sentence. Police and safeguarding agencies typically continue work behind the scenes after sentencing, including victim support and any review of safeguarding practice where relevant.

    If you are worried about a child

    If you think a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

    If you want to report a concern, you can contact West Midlands Police on 101, your local council safeguarding team, or the NSPCC helpline. If you prefer anonymity for reporting crime, Crimestoppers can take reports without your name.

  • Birmingham bin workers vote to extend strike mandate into September

    Birmingham bin workers vote to extend strike mandate into September

    Unite says Birmingham refuse workers have backed extending their industrial action mandate into September 2026. Birmingham City Council calls the move “disappointing” and says service changes will roll out from June.

    Credit: Unite the Union

    Birmingham’s long-running refuse dispute is not going away.

    Unite says bin workers have voted to extend their industrial action mandate beyond the May 2026 local elections and into September 2026, keeping the option of further strikes on the table.

    The union frames the vote as proof its members are still prepared to keep fighting. The council frames it as needless and frustrating, and insists it has already offered a route out.

    What Unite is claiming

    Unite’s public line is that the dispute centres on Birmingham City Council’s contract changes for refuse roles, with the union arguing workers have faced pay cuts and a worse deal.

    Industry reporting of the union’s position describes the row as involving so-called “fire and rehire” arrangements for loaders and drivers, and claims that some workers could lose significant sums depending on role changes. Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham is quoted arguing strikes will continue until a “fair deal” is reached.

    What the council is saying

    Birmingham City Council’s response, quoted in industry reporting, is blunt.

    Councillor Majid Mahmood describes the mandate extension as “disappointing” and “immensely frustrating” for residents. He also says the council has asked Unite to make a proposal to end the dispute, and claims Unite has declined.

    The council also points to role changes already carried through. It states that 170 former Waste Recycling and Collection Officers (WRCOs) were redeployed or took redundancy, and that most of 144 driver team leaders accepted new roles with six months of pay protection, with others taking redundancy or alternative jobs. The council claims that makes it “hard to understand” why the strike continues.

    It also signals it plans to press ahead with refuse service changes from June 2026, regardless of whether industrial action continues.

    The timeline, in plain dates

    The dispute has been running for more than a year.

    Industry reporting states Unite members began industrial action in January 2025, and that it escalated into all-out strikes from 11 March 2025, which heavily affected collections across the city.

    That background matters because “mandate extension” sounds like process. In real life, it means prolonged risk of missed collections, overflowing bins, and the knock-on issues that follow in densely populated neighbourhoods.

    What this means for residents

    This is not a political parlour game. Waste collection is basic civic infrastructure. If it becomes unreliable, problems stack up quickly: hygiene, vermin, fly-tipping, and streets that feel neglected.

    The dispute also sits against Birmingham’s wider reality. The council has tried to reshape services and control costs in recent years. Unions see that as cuts dressed up as “transformation”. Councils see it as survival.

    What happens next

    The mandate extension keeps the dispute live into late 2026 unless either side shifts position.

    If you are looking for the next hard milestone, it is not a slogan. It is whether negotiations restart and whether either side puts a concrete proposal in writing that the other can accept.

  • Guardian Taskforce reports arrests and weapons seizures across force area

    Guardian Taskforce reports arrests and weapons seizures across force area

    West Midlands Police say their Guardian Taskforce made arrests and seized knives, drugs and suspected criminal cash across several areas, including activity linked to Chelmsley Wood, Shard End and Balsall Heath.

    West Midlands Police have set out a string of arrests and seizures by their Guardian Taskforce, as part of Project Guardian, which targets knife crime and youth violence.

    In an update published on 10 February 2026, the force described action across the force area, including stops and searches that led to weapons and drugs being recovered.

    The incidents police highlighted

    According to West Midlands Police:

    • Officers patrolling around Wolverhampton city centre stopped and searched a man on 6 February. Police seized two wraps of Class A drugs and a knife. A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of knife and Class A drug offences. The force names him as Dean Everall, from Bridgnorth, and confirms he has been charged and is due at Dudley Magistrates’ Court on 5 March.
    • In Chelmsley Wood on 7 February, officers spotted a vehicle in Roebuck Close. Police state they found a machete, cash, and wraps of Class A drugs. A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a bladed article and possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply. Police say he has been bailed while enquiries continue.
    • In Balsall Heath on 7 February, officers stopped a car on Edward Road. Police report they seized cannabis, arrested a 26-year-old man, and dealt with the matter by community resolution.
    • In Shard End on 9 February, police say a boy reacted to their presence and ran. Officers detained a 16-year-old after a short chase. Police report a “zombie knife” was found nearby and the boy was arrested on suspicion of possessing a bladed article. Police say he has been bailed pending further enquiries.
    • Also on 9 February, officers in Lye stopped a man on Lye High Street. Police describe finding cannabis, cash and mobile phones believed to be linked to drug dealing. They say a 22-year-old man has been charged with possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply.

    What Project Guardian is, in plain English

    Police describe Project Guardian as a specialist effort aimed at knife crime and youth violence, using a mix of plain-clothes work, high-visibility patrols, and what they call “positive engagement” with young people.

    The enforcement is the visible bit. The deeper test is what happens next: charges that stick, court outcomes that follow, and whether the same hotspots keep reappearing in press releases.

    The wider context

    Knife-enabled crime remains a major issue across the region. ONS figures show 4,116 knife-enabled offences in the West Midlands Police force area in the year ending September 2025. That was down 18% on the previous year, but it is still thousands of incidents in a single year.

    What the public can do

    West Midlands Police have asked people to report suspicious activity through 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers.

  • Pulse West Midlands headlines: 11 February 2026

    Pulse West Midlands headlines: 11 February 2026

    Leo Ross murder sentence confirmed, Birmingham bin strike mandate extended into September, and West Midlands Police reports a 16-year jail term in a child safeguarding case plus Guardian Taskforce arrests and seizures across the force area.

    Teenager sentenced for murder of schoolboy Leo Ross in Hall Green

    Credit: West Midlands Police

    West Midlands Police says a 15-year-old boy has been sentenced to life, with a minimum term of 13 years in custody, for murdering 12-year-old Leo Ross.

    Police say Leo was attacked in Hall Green on 21 January 2025 as he walked home from school, near Trittiford Mill Park.

    Police say there is no indication the two knew each other and there is no known motive. The youth defendant cannot be named for legal reasons.

    The Crown Prosecution Service says the boy pleaded guilty to murder at Birmingham Crown Court on 29 January 2026.

    The CPS also says he admitted assaults on three elderly women in separate incidents near the same area between 19 and 21 January 2025.

    Sentencing took place at Birmingham Crown Court on 10 February 2026.

    Birmingham bin workers vote to extend strike mandate into September

    Birmingham’s long-running bin strike could run into September 2026 after a reballot.

    ITV News reports Unite says its members voted to extend industrial action for another six months, taking the mandate past the May local elections and into September.

    ITV reports the dispute began after the council announced the scrapping of the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer role and changes to drivers’ and loaders’ conditions.

    ITV reports Unite claims the changes mean some workers face pay cuts of up to £8,000, describing it as fire-and-rehire.

    Birmingham City Council has said it has made offers and wants the dispute to end. ITV reports the council has also said Unite’s demands would risk another equal pay bill running into hundreds of millions of pounds.

    ITV also reports the council confirmed fortnightly bin collections are set to begin in June 2026, even if industrial action continues.

    Birmingham mosque worker jailed in child safeguarding case

    Credit: West Midlands Police

    West Midlands Police says a former agency IT support worker at a Birmingham mosque has been jailed for 16 years for a campaign of rape and sexual abuse against boys as young as nine.

    Police say five boys were abused, with the oldest aged 14. Police say the mosque cannot be named for legal reasons.

    Police say the offender, Said Daauud, stopped working at the mosque in February 2022 but continued to attend and was well known to the congregation.

    Police say their investigation began in May 2022 after mothers raised concerns about grooming behaviour.

    Police say the investigation led to charges including one rape, nine sexual assaults, and four offences of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

    Guardian Taskforce reports arrests and weapons seizures across force area

    West Midlands Police says Guardian Taskforce teams have made arrests and seized knives, drugs and suspected criminal cash across multiple locations.

    Police say a man stopped in Wolverhampton city centre on 6 February was arrested after officers seized two wraps of Class A drugs and a knife.

    Police say Dean Everall, from Bridgnorth, has been charged with possession of a bladed article and possession of Class A drugs, and is due to appear at Dudley Magistrates’ Court on 5 March.

    In Chelmsley Wood, police say officers found a machete, cash and multiple wraps of Class A drugs during a stop in Roebuck Close on 7 February, and a 19-year-old man was arrested and later bailed pending further enquiries.

    Police say a 26-year-old man was given a community resolution after a stop in Balsall Heath on Edward Road where cannabis was seized.

    In Shard End, police say a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of a bladed article after a “zombie knife” was found nearby, and he was later bailed pending enquiries.

    Police also say a 22-year-old man was charged in Lye with possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply after officers found cannabis, cash and mobile phones believed to be linked to drug dealing.

  • Leo Ross murder: 15-year-old given life sentence with 13-year minimum

    Leo Ross murder: 15-year-old given life sentence with 13-year minimum

    A 15-year-old boy has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 13 years for murdering 12-year-old Leo Ross, who was attacked while walking home from school in Hall Green.

    A 15-year-old boy has been jailed for the murder of 12-year-old Leo Ross, who was attacked while walking home from school in Hall Green.

    West Midlands Police confirmed the teenager was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on 10 February 2026. The court imposed life detention with a minimum term of 13 years before he can be considered for release.

    Because the offender is a child, he cannot be identified.

    What the court outcome confirms

    Leo was killed on 21 January 2025, after he was attacked near Scribers Lane and Trittiford Mill Park, in Hall Green.

    The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the boy admitted murdering Leo at a hearing on 29 January 2026, ahead of sentencing. The police investigation then led to the life sentence being passed on 10 February.

    The CPS also confirmed the teenager was sentenced for other offences linked to the same day, including serious assaults on two elderly women, plus assault and knife possession offences.

    How police linked the boy to the killing

    Police have described a fast-moving investigation, with officers and detectives working to identify and arrest the attacker.

    The force has also set out that the boy tried to mislead officers at first, before later admitting the killing. That detail is important because it explains why the case moved from early uncertainty to a guilty plea.

    Why this case has hit so hard locally

    This was not a distant, abstract crime story. It was a child walking home from school in a Birmingham neighbourhood. That is why it still lands like a punch a year on.

    The wider picture is messy too. Knife-enabled crime is not just a London headline. Official figures published by the Office for National Statistics show the West Midlands Police force area recorded 4,116 knife-enabled offences in the year ending September 2025, down 18% on the year before. “Down” is welcome. “Four thousand” is still the bit that sticks in your throat.

    Nationally, ONS reporting for the same period puts knife or sharp instrument offences in England and Wales at 50,430, down 9%. Again: the direction is good. The volume is the problem.

    What happens next

    A life sentence does not mean automatic release at the minimum term. It means the offender must serve at least that minimum, and then convince the Parole Board it is safe to be released.

    For Leo’s family, the legal process has reached an ending. The loss does not.

  • Family tribute after man dies following Handsworth incident

    Family tribute after man dies following Handsworth incident

    West Midlands Police have published a family tribute after a man died following an incident in Handsworth, as detectives continue enquiries.

    West Midlands Police have released a family tribute after a man died following an incident in Handsworth.

    Police said Daniel (Danny) Lewis, 40, died in hospital on 5 February.

    What police have said happened

    West Midlands Police said officers were called at 00:55 on 1 February to a supermarket car park off Soho Road.

    Police said Lewis was found with serious injuries and was taken to hospital, where he later died.

    Arrests and investigation status

    Police said a 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and has been released on police bail while enquiries continue.

    Police said a second 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and has been released under investigation.

    The family tribute

    In the tribute released by police, Lewis’s family described him as a father of two and spoke about the impact of his death on those close to him.

    How to contact police

    West Midlands Police said anyone with information should contact them quoting log 75 of 1 February.

    People can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously.