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.

  • 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.

  • Pulse West Midlands headlines: 10 February 2026

    Pulse West Midlands headlines: 10 February 2026

    Birmingham’s cabinet considers key budget papers, police issue two public appeals, and rail passengers are warned of late-night disruption between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton

    Birmingham cabinet considers draft budget papers for 2026/27 to 2028/29

    Birmingham City Council’s cabinet is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 10 February 2026 at 10:00.

    Key items on the agenda include:

    • 2026/27 to 2028/29 Budget Setting for the General Fund Revenue Account
    • 2026/27 to 2028/29 Capital Programme Medium-Term Financial Plan
    • 2026/27 Treasury Management Strategy and Policy

    Other items listed for the same meeting include performance and savings monitoring, procurement strategies, a housing repairs contract extension, an item related to a Perry Barr residential scheme, a City of Sanctuary strategy, Kings Heath and Moseley Places for People, and appointments to outside bodies.

    Police appeal after reported sexual assault in Perry Barr

    West Midlands Police has published an appeal after a woman reported being sexually assaulted at a shopping park in Birmingham.

    Police say it happened at around 3pm on Saturday 20 December at One Stop in Perry Barr.

    Officers say they want to identify a man pictured as part of their enquiries. Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting crime reference 20/482030/25.

    Wolverhampton disturbance appeal: police seek witnesses

    West Midlands Police has issued an appeal linked to an incident on Bevan Avenue, Wolverhampton.

    Police say they were called on 8 February after a report of a disturbance outside an address. Officers say they are working to understand what happened and want to speak to anyone who was in the area between 9pm and 10pm.

    Police also say they want to speak to two people pictured as part of their enquiries, and that they are not being considered as suspects.

    Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting log 4371 of 8 Feb.

    Rail disruption warning for late services via Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton

    National Rail has published disruption information for late night Avanti West Coast services between London Euston and Wolverhampton, due to engineering work.

    The notice says the work runs from Monday 16 February 2026 to Thursday 19 February 2026, and that engineering work is taking place between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton, closing some lines.

    National Rail says the 22:30, 23:00 and 23:30 Euston to Wolverhampton services will be diverted after Birmingham New Street via Aston and Bescot Stadium, extending journey times and arriving later into Wolverhampton.

  • Pulse West Midlands headlines: 9 February 2026

    Pulse West Midlands headlines: 9 February 2026

    Two West Midlands Police identification appeals in Birmingham, the annual review hearing for the Black Country street racing injunction, and rail engineering works that will disrupt services into Birmingham later this month.

    Colmore Row: appeal after phone snatched near Christmas Market

    West Midlands Police are appealing after a woman had her phone snatched from her hand on Colmore Row, shortly before 3.10pm on 14 December.

    Police say she was taking photos of the Christmas Market when she was approached and the phone was taken. Officers have released an image of a man they want to identify after CCTV enquiries.

    Police describe him as around 5ft 7in tall, with brown curly hair. The appeal was published on 8 February.

    Digbeth: CCTV appeal after assault at Nortons

    Police have issued a CCTV appeal after an assault at Nortons bar in Digbeth.

    West Midlands Police say a man was punched in the face at around 8pm on Boxing Day, 26 December, at the Meriden Street venue. Police say the punch caused him to fall, leaving him with a broken ankle and bruising.

    Officers want to speak to the man shown in the footage as part of the investigation. The appeal was published on 8 February.

    Black Country: street racing injunction review hearing set for 26 February

    City of Wolverhampton Council says the High Court will hold the annual review of the Black Country street racing injunction on Thursday 26 February 2026, in Birmingham.

    The council says the injunction covers Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall, and already bans “street racing” or “car cruising” in the area. It says the order applies between 3pm and 7am, and covers drivers, riders and passengers in or on vehicles, as well as organisers and spectators.

    The council says the injunction has a power of arrest attached, and that breach is contempt of court, with penalties that can include imprisonment, a fine, or asset seizure. It says the original order was granted on 27 February 2024 and is reviewed annually.

    Trains: February engineering works affecting services into Birmingham

    West Midlands Railway has published a list of engineering works that will disrupt services into Birmingham later in February.

    From Monday 9 to Thursday 12 February, the late-evening 22:58 service from Birmingham International to Rugeley Trent Valley is listed as amended.

    On Sunday 22 February, buses are due to replace trains between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton, affecting services that run through to Birmingham New Street.

    And over the weekend of Saturday 28 February and Sunday 1 March, there are due to be no trains between Shrewsbury and Birmingham New Street, with changes also listed on the Transport for Wales corridor.

  • Pulse West Midlands headlines: 8 February 2026

    Pulse West Midlands headlines: 8 February 2026

    Two West Midlands Police identification appeals in Birmingham, an update in a Handsworth death investigation, and Metro service changes that affect travel into Birmingham city centre later this month.

    Heartlands Hospital appeal after racist abuse and threats

    West Midlands Police are appealing for information after an incident at Heartlands Hospital in Bordesley Green.

    Police say that at around 4pm on 14 January, a man entered the hospital and shouted racist abuse at several people and made threats. Officers say they want to speak to the man pictured in their appeal as they investigate what happened.

    Perry Barr robbery appeal after woman pulled to the floor

    Police have also issued an identification appeal after a robbery on Walsall Road, Perry Barr.

    West Midlands Police say a woman was robbed at around 5pm on 29 December. Officers say she was approached by a man who grabbed her handbag, pulling her onto the floor, before leaving with the bag, which contained money.

    Handsworth: investigation after man dies following serious injuries

    West Midlands Police say they are investigating after a man died after being found with serious injuries in Handsworth.

    Police say they were called just after 12.45pm on Monday 2 February to reports of a man in cardiac arrest on a supermarket car park on Soho Road. Officers say the man, aged 40, later died in hospital. Police say they believe he was involved in disorder in the Soho Road/Holyhead Road area before he was found.

    Police say a 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and has been bailed pending further enquiries. A second 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and has been released under investigation, police said.

    Metro: February service changes and mid-month tie-in works

    West Midlands Metro has published its February service changes, including works that will affect travel into Birmingham city centre.

    Metro says Wolverhampton St George’s stop will not be in use from Saturday 7 February while signalling equipment is replaced.

    Metro also says that from 21:15 on Monday 16 February until the end of service on Wednesday 18 February, trams will run only between Wednesbury Great Western Street and Wolverhampton Station. Metro says there will be no services between Wednesbury Great Western Street and Edgbaston Village during that window, before normal service resumes from the start of service on Thursday 19 February.

    Metro says ticket acceptance will apply on specific alternative services during the works, including National Express bus routes and West Midlands Railway services between Wolverhampton and Birmingham for season ticket holders only.