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HANGING INQUEST JURY RESUMES An inquest jury in Telford is due to resume its deliberations after hearing how a man was found hanged six months after the death of his uncle. Jason McGowan, 20, was found hanged on New Year's Day 2000, near the Elephant and Castle pub in Ketley, Telford. Police also investigated the death of Mr McGowan's uncle, Errol McGowan, and have linked the two deaths. VIDEO TO SPEED UP ID PARADES West Midlands Police are to launch a new hi-tech video system to speed up the staging of identification parades. The Video Identification Parade Electronic Recording system is being installed at Coventry's Little Park Street police station. Insp Barrie Thompson said "This new system will enable us to bring offenders more speedily to book" ARMED ROBBER THREATENS STAFF Police are hunting an armed robber who threatened staff with a gun at a newsagent's shop in Solihull. The thief struck at Morgam News in Warwick Road, Olton, while an accomplice stood guard at the door. West Midlands Police said the men escaped with £50 in cash and cigarettes. No one was injured during the raid. Witnesses are being sought. MEP WANTS EFFORT TO FIND PEACE A West Midlands MEP has urged the international community to help stop tensions between India and Pakistan escalating into full-scale war. Liz Lynne, the president of the Liberal Democrats Friends of Kashmir said: "Europe cannot stand by and let this dispute slide into nuclear war." She said an independent international envoy may help to find a solution. JOURNALIST'S WATCH 'SUSPICIOUS' A Birmingham journalist held in Pakistan amid claims of spying was detained after his watch aroused the suspicions of border guards. Amardeep Bassey was told that his £147 watch appeared to be "incompatible with his professional requirements". Mr Bassey, investigations editor of the Sunday Mercury, is expected to be released without charge next week. WARNING OVER QUARRY DANGERS Quarry owners in the West Midlands have issued a warning to children not to be tempted to use industrial and excavation sites as playgrounds. The Quarry Products Association said it feared youngsters would put their lives at risk during the Jubilee Bank Holiday and the forthcoming summer holidays. A spokesman said: "A number of children have been injured playing in quarries." TWO INJURED IN CRASH Two people are in hospital in Redditch after their car crashed into a barrier after failing to stop for a police squad car. West Mercia Police said the driver and passenger of the red Ford Escort had been admitted to Alexandra Hospital with head injuries. It crashed a quarter of a mile after police tried to stop it on the A441. WIDOWER WANTS ASHES RETURNED A grieving husband from Stoke-on-Trent has appealed for the return of his wife's ashes after thieves stole the van they were in. Gordon Crook, 80, wanted to fulfil his wife Joyce's dying wish to have her remains placed at the couple's favourite Devon beauty spots. Mr Crook was staying at an Exmouth caravan park when his van was stolen. SADNESS OVER PILOT'S DEATH Friends of a former West Midlands air ambulance pilot have expressed their sadness after he was killed when his helicopter crashed into the sea. Tony Taylor, 53, died after the twin-engined Bolkow 105 he was flying ditched off the coast of Orkney. "Our thoughts go out to his family and friends," a spokesman for the County Air Ambulance in Cosford said. MEMORIAL GARDEN DEDICATED A memorial garden dedicated to the Royal Regiment of Artillery has been opened at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. It was officially dedicated at a ceremony at the Alrewas woodland centre attended by 450 serving and ex-gunners. The garden commemorates all who have served in the regiment, more than one million in the Second World War alone. BIRMINGHAM SCOOPS LEADING ARCHITECT FOR NEW LIBRARY One of Britain’s most influential architectural practices, the Richard
Rogers Partnership, has been awarded the prestigious contract to develop
concept designs for the proposed Library of Birmingham in Eastside.
THREE ALLEGED PROLIFIC OFFENDERS ARRESTED IN WALSALL FOR 17 OFFENCES Officers from Walsall's robbery team have arrested three men, all in their early twenties, who have been charged with a total of 17 offences around Walsall and North Birmingham. The three men have been questioned following specific operations under the forcewide robbery initiative, Operation Safer Streets II. Six of the 17 charges relate to robberies, six to theft from a person, two of theft of petrol, two of theft of other property and one to the theft of a car. Detective Inspector Neil Beechey, in charge of the robbery team at Walsall police station, said: "This week has been a great success and dedicated planning from the robbery team has really paid off. "We believe these three arrests will have a marked effect on the number of robberies across Walsall. We have also recovered some stolen property which has delighted the victims, mostly elderly women." West Midlands Police is one of 10 forces around the country involved in the national Robbery Reduction Initiative and special teams of officers have been set up across the entire force area to tackle robbery. A dedicated team of 160 officers are currently working on Operation Safer Streets II throughout the force area. LIBRARY SERVICES JOIN BOGUS OFFICIAL FIGHT POLICE from Sutton Coldfield operational command unit and Birmingham Library Services at Home have formed a partnership to provide information and advice to elderly people about distraction burglaries. Library Services at Home will maintain a range of videos recently produced by the Home Office Distraction Burglary Taskforce, which will be available to customers to view at home. In addition to the video a booklet entitled 'How to Beat the Bogus Caller' and a reminder sticker that reinforces the 'Stop, Chain Check' message will also be distributed. PC Nigel Charlesworth, crime reduction officer at Sutton Coldfield, said: "We are very grateful to Birmingham Libraries for their support in this initiative. "Library Services at Home provides a valuable link to some of the more vulnerable members of our community and, by taking this information into people's homes, we hope to reduce the number of victims of bogus caller crime." SIX ARRESTS FOR SAFER STREETS II IN SOUTH-WEST BIRMINGHAM Rose Road operational command unit, which covers Harborne, Edgbaston, Ladywood, Winson Green and Quinton, made six arrests during specific operations under the forcewide robbery initiative, Operation Safer Streets II. Those arrested include a man who is thought to have been involved in several robberies in the Edgbaston area. Detective Inspector Bob Kearns, in charge of the robbery team at Rose Road police station, said: "We believe that this arrest in particular will have a marked effect on the number of robberies across the OCU. "We have had a successful week that includes the detection of five previous robberies, searches at areas identified as having a greater proportion of robberies, operations on bus routes to combat travelling robbers and use of the mobile CCTV van." West Midlands Police is one of 10 forces around the country involved in the national Robbery Reduction Initiative and special teams of officers have been set up across the entire force area to tackle robbery. SAFER STREETS TEAM MAKE IMPORTANT ARRESTS IN WEST BROMWICH The Safer Streets police robbery team for North Sandwell have arrested six youths after an armed robbery in High Street, West Bromwich. Two people were robbed of cash and jewellery at gunpoint during the incident on Thursday 2 May. A CCTV operator spotted the lads acting suspiciously in Jesson Street, West Bromwich, and drop a gun behind a wall. Police went to the scene and recovered a weapon along with ammunition. All six lads were arrested on suspicion of robbery and firearms offences and have been released on bail while forensic tests are carried out on the gun. Sergeant Amanda Ford heads the Safer Streets II team based at West Bromwich police station. She said: "We are working hard to tackle street crime for North Sandwell and have made several arrests since the initiative began at the beginning of April. Anyone with information about crime should call their local police station on 0845 113 5000." Crime figures for April this year show officers in North Sandwell detected nearly 26 per cent of all robberies - nearly six per cent over the force target. POLICE IN BIRMINGHAM ASK FILM FANS TO RAT ON A RAT Police in Birmingham are asking visitor to the three UGC Cinemas in Birmingham to 'Rat on a Rat', in an advert shown before the start of films. They want local people who know who is dealing in drugs to call the anonymous Crimestoppers line - 0800 555 111 - and pass on any information they have. Callers to Crimestoppers do not have to give their details and calls that lead to an arrest may qualify for a reward. The initiative, assisted by advertiser Pearl & Dean and UGC cinemas, is just one part of a campaign which covers all nine Birmingham operational command units, and will involve police working closely with the Drug Action Teams and other agencies such as the probation service, the health authority, drug referral agencies and the education department. The scheme will be part of the 'Communities Against Drugs' initiative. "Local people are the eyes and ears of the community and usually know exactly who is dealing in drugs in their area. "One phone call may be enough to provide us with information to enable us take some positive action against these people, who are infecting the lives of so many communities," said Assistant Chief Constable Nick Tofiluk, who is heading the initiative. "I would appeal to members of the community who have information about drug dealing to make that call - only by working together can we tackle drugs effectively." INDECENT ASSAULT - WOMAN KNOCKED TO GROUND Police are urgently asking the public to help them catch a man attacked a woman in a cemetery, knocking her to the ground, kicking her in the head and then indecently assaulting her. The attack happened in broad daylight this morning between 10.20 and 10.30 as the woman walked through the London Road cemetery in Cheylesmore, Coventry, looking for a relative's grave. A man, who was carrying a tennis racquet, walked past and said good morning to her. Shortly afterwards he reappeared, knocked her to the ground and kicked her in the head. He then indecently assaulted the woman. She bravely fought back and began screaming. The man then fled on foot out of the cemetery and across the London Road. He left behind the tennis racquet, which police are now examining. It is an old-fashioned wooden racquet with no brand name. He is described as a white man in his 30s, about 5ft 8ins to 5ft 9ins tall, with tousled mousey brown hair and blue/grey eyes. He was clean shaven and wore a wine and navy waist length jacket which was unzipped, pale trousers and trainers. He had a local Coventry accent. The woman, who is a visitor to the area from Ireland, sustained bruises to her face, back and arms and was very shocked. A police spokesman said: "This was a terrible incident involving a totally innocent woman who was in a cemetery paying her respects to deceased relatives. "It happened in broad daylight and we hope that there were witnesses who saw the man either before the attck or as he fled the scene. In particular it is unusual he was carrying a tennis racquet before the incident. He clearly presents a danger to women and we are extremely anxious to trace him." Anyone with information is urged to telephone 0845 113 5000 and ask to be put through to the helpdesk at Chace Avenue police station. Alternatively people can ring the free, confidential Crimestoppers number 0800 555111. Callers do not have to give their name and they may qualify for a reward. HIGH PROFILE POLICE OPERATION IN DUDLEY LEADS TO A NUMBER OF ARRESTS Officers in Dudley took part a high profile police operation on Friday around the High street and the Merry Hill bus station as part of Operation Safer Streets 11, the forcewide initiative to crack down on street robbery. A large number of uniformed officers and officers in plain clothes took part in the operation, with colleagues from the OCU's dedicated robbery team and inspectors from Travel West Midlands. A number of stop and searches took place, as leaflets on personal security and mobile phone safety were handed out to members of the public in and around the High Street area and on the buses. At Dudley bus station, a man was arrested in possession of a sharpened screwdriver and has been charged to appear before Dudley magistrates on Monday. Another man was arrested in possession of heroin. It later transpired he was also wanted for four offences of house burglary and has also been remanded to appear at court on Monday. At Merry Hill a man who was wanted for escaping from custody after he was arrested for an aggravated burglary was also arrested and will also appear before magistrates on Monday. Also at Merry Hill two suspects allegedly driving stolen car were chased and detained by plain clothes officers from the robbery team officers with help from the security guards from the shopping centre. One of the suspects is wanted for robbery, escaping from custody, aggravated burglary and theft of vehicle. He was charged with the above offences and was due to appear before West Bromwich Magistrates on Friday, the other man was released without charge. Chief Superintendent Dennis Hodson said: "This high profile policing was well received by members of the public and shopkeepers alike and gave out a clear message to offenders. "The success of the operation was such that it will be ongoing and will continue throughout the summer on different days and times in and around these locations." OBSCENE VIDEOS FOUR IN COURT Four Stoke-on-Trent people are to be sentenced on charges of conspiring to publish obscene videos showing "cruelly terrifying" scenes involving animals. Craig Chapman, 27, Christine Besford, 26, Sarah Cooke, 22, and Tharaza Smallwood, 22, all appeared at Stoke on Trent Crown Court. They all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to publish obscene material. PROBE AFTER FATAL BLAZE Police and fire investigators are continuing to investigate the cause of a house blaze which killed a woman from Newcastle-under-Lyme. The 39-year-old perished when fire broke out at the home she shared with her husband and two-year-old daughter. The victim's husband and daughter received hospital treatment after they were rescued from the property. GIRL ATTACKED BY ROTTWEILER A 10-year-old girl of Wolverhampton has described how her "brave" best friend saved her as she was savaged by a dog. Nicki Hughes was attacked by a Rottweiler as she was playing with Rosanna Haughton, 13, near their home. The dog went for Nicki's throat and Rosanna tried to pull the animal off. Nicki is in New Cross Hospital after being bitten on her face and arms. CYCLIST 'SERIOUS' AFTER CRASH A cyclist is in a serious condition in hospital after a collision with a car in Stoke-on-Trent, police have said. The 24-year-old hit his head on the kerb in the incident in Fenton, near the entrance to the leisure centre. The cyclist was taken to the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary, and his condition is said to be serious but stable. The car driver was unhurt. ASYLUM CENTRES 'ARE A MISTAKE' The Home Secretary's plan for large asylum centres in rural areas such as Throckmorton, Worcestershire, has been criticised by a campaigning charity. Accommodation centres are "likely to cause rather than reduce community tensions", said the British Red Cross. The pressure group is the latest in a string of humanitarian organisations to condemn David Blunkett's proposal. ROYAL NAMES FOR FIVE PUPPIES Five puppies in Warwickshire are being named after the Royal Family by Guide Dogs for the Blind in a tribute to 50 years of the Queen's reign. Elizabeth, Charles, Andrew, Edward and Anne will make their first appearance at the breeding centre in Tollgate. The five labrador-retriever cross-breed puppies will then spend the next year with volunteer puppy walkers. 'SHOTS FIRED' AT BAND MEMBERS Members of current chart band A have claimed they were shot at with an air rifle as they left a Coventry venue. The punk metal outfit is at number 20 in the UK singles charts with their latest single Starbucks. Band members were leaving the Colosseum night club when they said they were shot at from the seventh floor of a tower block. No-one was injured. SURGEON'S FUTURE CONSIDERED A hospital trust in Coventry is considering whether to reinstate a suspended surgeon. The General Medical Council had upheld its recommendation that breast cancer surgeon Briony Ackroyd return to work. The trust, which runs Walsgrave Hospital, must decide whether to allow her to return or put her before its own disciplinary panel. HANGED MAN: JURY DISCHARGED An inquest jury has been discharged after failing to reach a verdict on a Telford man who was found hanged six months after the death of his uncle. The panel had been told how 20-year-old Jason McGowan was found hanged on New Year's Day 2000, near the Elephant and Castle pub in Ketley. The coroner will hold a second inquest on a date yet to be fixed. RAILING TRAGEDY INQUEST OPENS The inquest into the death of a Dudley teenager who was impaled on a railing as he tried to retrieve a football has been opened and adjourned. Dudley Coroner's Court was told that 15-year-old Ryan Tomlinson died from "traumatic injuries" when he fell 6ft on to a gate at Dudley Guest Hospital. The schoolboy, of Birmingham New Road, had been playing with friends. FOUR PUPILS SUSPENDED AFTER 'ROBBERY PRANK' WENT WRONG Four pupils from a south Birmingham school have been suspended for two weeks after a 'prank' went wrong when they falsely claimed they had been robbed. The group came up with the story to avoid a lesson - but quickly realised their story had gone too far when police were alerted and began a search of the area. The following day the four admitted to school teachers they had made up the story and were duly suspended. PC Cheryl Lucas, based at Warstock police station on the Operation Safer Streets II robbery team, said the pupils were lucky not to be prosecuted for wasting police time. "They should be ashamed of themselves," she said. "We took this report very seriously and units carried out a search of the area to try and find the alleged offenders. We treated this report at face value and certainly the girls appeared to be very shaken up. "I have already spoken to one of the girls involved to warn her of her behaviour and will be speaking to the others - and their parents - in due course. Their behaviour was irresponsible to say the least." The group made the claim followed a sports lesson at a nearby field when they were forced to walk back to the school because there was no room in a mini bus. Annoyed at having to walk back, they hatched a plot to get out of a lesson, saying the two girls had been robbed. The girls claimed they had been approached by four youths wearing hooded clothing who had stolen a mobile phone and a quantity of cash. The boys backed up their story and said they had witnessed the attack. Police were due to return to the school the following day to take detailed statements when the pupils admitted they had made up the story. PC Lucas said the school was furious at the pupils' behaviour and had immediately suspended them for two weeks. "Luckily, none of the pupils have been in trouble before and I think they have learn a lesson," said PC Lucas. "The whole school knows what they have done and I don't think they will make up false claims again in a hurry. "This should serve as a warning to other youngsters tempted to make up false allegations - another time they could have found themselves in court facing a very serious charge." NEW POLICE CHIEF ARRIVES FOR SOUTH SANDWELL The people of South Sandwell have a new local police chief from today as Nicola Grevatt takes up the post left by OCU commander Bob Baxter. Chief Supt Baxter has moved to police headquarters at Lloyd House to head up the new force community safety bureau. He said: "I have been immensely privileged and proud to lead my officers and serve the community of South Sandwell for the last five years. Together with our partners we have made great strides to making Sandwell a safe place for people to live, work and visit. "The support of the public has been vital to our achievements. I thank them for that and will watch with interest as Sandwell grows from strength to strength." Chief Supt Grevatt previously worked with the Metropolitan Police in London and has more than 20 years' service. ASTON RESIDENTS URGED TO SMART WATER PROPERTY Officers from the Aston West neighbourhood crime fighting team are offering free Smart Water marking for all residents in the area. A unique product designed to mark personal property, Smart Water enables stolen property to be identified. It's non-toxic, non-staining and easy to apply. Sergeant Steve Blake said: "Officers intend to go to people's homes and mark their belongings at no cost at all. "Ideally we'd like residents to have electrical goods such as stereo systems, televisions, computers and videos marked. However, only a maximum of 10 items per household can be marked." Police have sent a letter out to locals informing them of the initiative and have already started visiting local homes. Those interested should contact police at Queens Road by Sunday 30 June. Further information is available from Sgt Blake at Queens Road police station 0121 626 1878. POLICE IN WOLVERHAMPTON SHARE THEIR SKILLS WITH LOCAL BIKERS Keen motorcyclists across Wolverhampton are invited to a 'Think Bike' day in Peel Street and School Street car parks on Sunday 9 June from 11.00am to 3.00pm. The day-long event will offer a variety of activities including instruction from skilled police motorcyclists from West Midlands Police, exhibition stands and competitions. Police motorcyclist Sergeant Ned Kelly, from Wolverhampton East operational command unit, said: "We are hoping to share with motorcyclists some specialist riding methods which will improve their riding skills and increase their safety." The occasion promises to cater for 'all kinds of motorcycle, all kinds of motorcyclist', and all proceeds from the event will be donated to the County Air Ambulance. Anyone wishing to enter a 'Ride-Out' competition on the day will be required to show his or her insurance documents. If you are interested in setting up a stall, taking part in the competitions, or for general information please call 01902 649123/134. £1m FOUNTAIN RESTORATION BEGINS Work is beginning on a £1m project to restore a Victorian fountain at a Worcestershire stately home. English Heritage said the repairs to the 19th-century Perseus and Andromeda fountain at Witley Court, near Worcester, would take 12 months. An English Heritage spokesman said surrounding gardens are also set to be replanted to their original design. FOUR JAILED OVER ANIMAL TORTURE Four people who made videos of animals being tortured and killed have been jailed at Stoke on Trent Crown Court. Craig Chapman, 27, Christine Besford, 26, Sarah Cooke, 22, and Tharaza Smallwood, 22, pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to publish obscene material. Chapman was sentenced to two years in prison and and the others were sentenced to four months. RSPCA WELCOMES JAIL SENTENCE The RSPCA has welcomed jail sentences imposed on four people from the West Midlands who made videos of animals being tortured and sexually abused. The animal charity said it was sickened by the video, which featured women in high heels trampling small animals. RSPCA Chief Supt Barry Fryer promised anyone involved in producing or buying such material would face the courts. BRUMMIE THE CIVIC CAT RETIRES A civic cat in Birmingham is to retire after a seven-year career in which she has caught hundreds of mice and been immortalised in a stained glass window. Brummie, a 10-year-old shorthaired tabby, has lived in Birmingham's Council House since being rescued from an animal sanctuary in the mid-90s. The feline has been found a home with a woman who recently lost her own pet. MAN REUNITED WITH WIFE'S ASHES A grieving Stoke-on-Trent pensioner is having his wife's ashes returned to him five days after they were stolen along with the van they were hidden in. Thieves took 80-year-old Gordon Crook's van from outside a caravan at Devon Cliff Caravan Park in Sandy Bay, near Exmouth, where he was staying. The vehicle was found in Plymstock with the remains of his wife Joyce inside. CHURCH MAY SHUT TRAINING CENTRE The Catholic Church is to consider closing its St Mary's priesthood college in Oscott, near Birmingham. The news comes after it emerged only half of the training places are being taken in it's four UK training centres. A seminary commission recommended it should merge with St Cuthbert's College, near Durham, creating one seminary for the north and Midlands. REDUCTION IN ROBBERIES FOR WEDNESFIELD The number of robberies is reducing in Wednesfield with officers on one sector dealing with just one robbery in the last month. Operation Safer Streets II, the high profile operation to crack down on robbery, has resulted in the arrest of 732 people across the force since its launch on April 1. The Wolverhampton West operational command unit is bucking the trend in the number of detections for the whole force. Over the last three months (February to April) the OCU has exceeded the performance target on robbery. There are less victims of robbery as offenders being caught more quickly with the help of the new fast track systems in the robbery courts. This includes a 30-year-old man from Wolverhampton who was recently sentenced to 10 years following a series of five robberies committed in just eight hours. From offending to sentencing the process took five weeks and three days. A 'video robbery van' has been used to crack down on street crime in the town targeting hot spot areas and offenders. Officers established a team of six officers whose sole responsibility is to tackle robberies, both reactively and proactively. The robbery strategy includes working in partnership with West Midlands Travel, who have been keen to help police reduce incidents on buses and trams by installing high quality video equipment on their vehicles as well as at bus shelters. This has led to a number of offenders being identified and arrested and serves as a deterrent as word reaches other offenders. Officers patrolling public transport are able to give on the spot advice to passengers on how to keep themselves and their belongings safe and secure. Detective sergeant Anthony Murphy, leading the OCU's robbery team, said: "The results have been achieved by using a variety of methods. These include proactively targeting known or suspected offenders, high profile use of the robbery video van in hotspot areas, working closely with schools and the bus companies and actively pursuing information given by the public and our own intelligence systems. "I would encourage any member of the public with information about robberies to contact officers at Wednesfield or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111." POLICE ROBBERY TEAM USE CAMERAS TO CATCH OFFENDERS IN THE ACT Robbers could find themselves on film as part of Operation Safer Streets II - the forcewide initiative to combat street crime. Officers in Solihull are using camcorders to get snaps of possible robbery offenders and then try to identify them. The information will assist police build up intelligence on regular offenders and help with future prosecutions. The cameras will be used openly by officers in and around the town. Detective Sergeant Kevin Farrow, who leads the Solihull North robbery team, said: "We have had some important arrests since the team was set up and we are working hard to combat the problem of robbery in the borough. We are using stop and search powers to disrupt potential offenders, as well as the CCTV van. "Officers are also chasing up people wanted for breach of bail and the new video ID VIPER suite at Coventry will be used by us to help victims point out offenders and allow us to charge people much more quickly." A new protocol has been drawn up between the force, the courts, the CPS, Victim Support and Witness Support for dealing with street crime. The protocol covers a wide range of topics, including providing security at court, the preparation of files and preparing files for court. West Midlands Police are one of 10 forces taking part in the National Robbery Reduction Initiative. Safer Streets II teams are working across the force area to tackle street crime and crime figures are reported back to the Home Office on a regular basis. THREE COUNCILS NAMED AS WORST Three West Midlands councils have been named as providing poor social services in new star ratings by the Government. Birmingham, Coventry and Walsall will all have teams of consultants sent to help them improve. Health Minister Jacqui Smith said poor performance in social services at Walsall reflected poor performance by the council as a whole. RASTAFARIAN DEMANDS APOLOGY A Rastafarian from Birmingham has demanded an apology from a judge who ordered his arrest after he refused to remove his hat while in court. Terence Lynch, 43, from Nechells was detained in the cells for two hours for contempt at Birmingham Crown Court. He was reportedly told by the judge to "practise his religion outside" and was eventually freed without charge. CASTLE TO HOST ANTIQUES SHOW Warwick Castle is due to host the BBC Antiques Roadshow for the first time, it has been announced. Two episodes of the popular BBC 1 programme will be filmed at the castle and shown later in the year. A team of experts from the show will be on hand to examine the public's items in the Central Courtyard, a castle spokesman said. MINISTER DISCUSSES RECYCLING Secretary of State for the Environment Margaret Beckett is in Birmingham to address a convention on recycling. The international meeting will hear the Minister discuss the Government's strategy on waste management. The three-day event has brought waste experts together from around the world, including people from Egypt, Italy and the United States. ZOO ANIMAL NAMED AFTER MANAGER A zoo in the West Midlands has named a six-week-old primate after England football manager Sven Goran Eriksson. The ring-tailed lemur, bred by Dudley Zoo, has been named in honour of the international team's Swedish boss. Zoo boss Peter Suddock said: "In 1997 we named a couple of animals after the Blairs.This time keepers said we should have a name with a World Cup theme." TROUBLED SOLDIER HANGED HIMSELF A soldier from Dudley who was troubled by two broken marriages and whose work was being investigated committed suicide, an inquest has ruled. Scots Guard Quartermaster Sergeant Wayne Carter was found hanged in the toilet of the First Battalion HQ in St James's Park in central London. The Westminster Coroner recorded a verdict of suicide on the 36-year-old. OAP FOUND DEAD AT CARE HOME The death of a pensioner found dead at her Staffordshire care home is not being treated as suspicious. The woman, in her late 70s, was found at the Glenfield residence, Lowerpark, Tamworth, with head injuries. A Staffordshire police spokesman said the woman was found by her 52-year-old son. A file is being prepared for the coroner. MAN IN COURT ON DRUGS CHARGES A Birmingham man has appeared in court in connection with the seizure by Customs staff of heroin and other class A drugs with a street value of £10.5m. Gerald Mills, 40, of Erdington, and three other men are accused of attempting to smuggle heroin in a consignment of flat pack furniture. The four men Torquay appeared before Torquay magistrates in Devon. NEW ROLE FOR ARTS DIRECTOR One of the people behind Birmingham's bid to be European Capital of Culture has been named as a member of the new National Council for the Arts. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has appointed Dorothy Wilson to sit on the 15-member panel. "I want to see the arts continue to enrich the lives of people in the West Midlands," Ms Wilson said. PARAMEDIC MOTORCYLIST APPOINTED The first ever female paramedic motorcyclist in the region has been appointed to work in Shrewsbury. Julia Fellows, 33, who works for the Shropshire Ambulance Service, is one of only a few women in the country to have such a role. "This new role is so exciting and will contribute towards saving many lives," said Julia, who is a keen motorcyclist. EYE IN THE SKY FOR SAFER STREETS II The West Midlands Police helicopter will be hovering over the Handsworth, Lozells and Perry Barr areas as part of the forcewide crackdown on robbery, Operation Safer Streets II. The helicopter will be on the look out for any suspicious activity, either by hovering as low as 300 feet above a target area, or by using sophisticated camera equipment to recognise a face on the ground from up to half a mile away. Superintendent Andrew Nicholson, operations manager at Thornhill Road, operational command unit, said: "We will use pictures from the camera to monitor areas where robberies are more likely to take place. "The helicopter will also be connected directly to the police control room, so that when a robbery does occur, the offender can be followed and recorded. "Our message to anyone thinking of committing robbery is - the helicopter is hard to escape and can hone in on you in a matter of minutes - the risk of committing robbery is simply too big." The helicopter will stay in this area for a few weeks and then move onto different parts of the force. West Midlands Police is one of 10 forces around the country involved in the national Robbery Reduction Initiative and special teams of officers have been set up across the entire force area to tackle robbery. LATEST SAFER STREETS FIGURES FOR WOLVERHAMPTON A 35-year-old man will appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 12 June alleged to be involved in a string of robbery offences across the city. The local man was arrested for two robbery offences in the Wednesfield area and one in Davenport Road in Compton on 13 May when an 86-year-old woman was injured. The incident took place at 4.30pm, when a man approached the woman from behind and pushed her in the back, causing her to fall face down onto the footpath. He then took her shopping bag, before running to a white car parked in Regis Road opposite Davenport Road. The woman, from Wolverhampton, suffered swelling to her arm and elbow and cuts and abrasions. Another man has been arrested in connection with offences in Wednesfield. The suspect was arrested during an operation using the sophisticated ANRP (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) system, which automatically flagged up the fact he was wanted in connection with a number of offences. The man is due to appear before court in July. Both men are remanded in custody. WEST MIDLANDS POLICE TO INCREASE PRESENCE IN COURTS IN LATEST DRIVE TO TACKLE STREET ROBBERY West Midlands Police are to increase their presence in both magistrates and crown courts in an attempt to provide reassurance to witnesses and victims giving evidence. The new initiative is part of Operation Safer Streets II, the forcewide campaign to crack down on street crime. Announcing the new policing arrangements, Assistant Chief Constable (Crime Reduction) Chris Sims said: "To effectively tackle street crime we need the help of members of the public, who are confident to come forward and provide us with information. "But if people do come forward, they need to be confident that we will support them, especially if they have to attend court. "National research has shown that low level witness intimidation, together with a general feeling of insecurity within the precincts of the court, are the main reasons why witnesses are sometimes reluctant to attend to give evidence. "We believe that an increased uniform presence at courts around the West Midlands will provide an improved level of reassurance to both victims and witnesses." There will be an increased uniformed presence at each of the three crown court centres and at the designated magistrates and youth 'robbery' courts at Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Coventry. For example, at Birmingham Magistrates Court and Youth Court two uniformed constables will take part in daily patrols throughout the precincts of the court, in particular the area set aside for prosecution witnesses. In addition, where possible officers attending court to give evidence will be in uniform and uniformed officers waiting to give evidence will not wait in designated police rooms but will actively patrol the precincts of the court. OCUs which have courts in their areas have also been tasked with ensuring that court buildings are treated as a form of 'microbeat' and visited regularly by local officers as part of their patrols. The new arrangements will begin immediately and will be reviewed on a regular basis. Tony Heath, Clerk to the Birmingham Justices, welcomed the enhanced level of police security in courts. He said: "If justice is to be done it is essential that victims and witnesses who attend court to give evidence, and those who work there, should be free from intimidation and violence; increased police presence in courts is a valuable move to ensure their safety." SEVENTY-FIVE TARGETS AS POLICE IN SOUTHWEST BIRMINGHAM LAUNCH OPERATION TURBULENCE Police in South-West Birmingham covering areas of Harborne, Edgbaston, Ladywood, Winson Green and Quinton will launch Operation Turbulence this week to reduce burglary, anti social behaviour and vehicle crime. A poster campaign will warn that officers in all these areas will be taking part in overt and covert operations to shake up criminals and make the areas as calm as possible. Detective Chief Inspector Malcolm Coall, crime manager for the operational command unit, said: "We have around 75 targets to focus us, they are people who have committed crime in the past and who we believe to be prolific offenders. "Operations will take place with officers travelling on buses, in the mobile CCTV van, using police vehicles and by foot patrol. "Apart from targeting known criminals, we will also be launching a programme of crime prevention talks in secondary schools. "The hard-hitting presentation will include an explanation of how having a criminal record can affect your life including restrictions to travel and restrictions to working in certain professions such as sport coaching and nursing. "Officers will also inform young people about mobile phone theft, how to prevent it and what are the repercussions of taking part in it." The talks kick off at George Dixon Secondary School, City Road, Edgbaston on Wednesday 12 June and continue across the area until mid July. MOTORCYCLIST DIES IN CRASH A motorcyclist has been killed in a head-on collision with a police patrol car in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent. The 24-year-old rider from Eccleshall, near Stafford, was pronounced dead at the scene. A police spokesman said it appeared the motorbike was overtaking a line of traffic in Anchor Road when it collided with a Ford Focus patrol car. £6M LOTTERY TICKET UNCLAIMED A mystery winner in the West Midlands could be sitting on a Lottery jackpot of almost £6m which has gone unclaimed for over two months. The two winning tickets for the draw on Saturday March 9 - worth £2.9m each -have been traced to the same shop in the West Midlands. The winning numbers are 9, 18, 20, 21, 39, and 48. MP VISITS DRUG REHAB CENTRE The Tory MP for Meriden is visiting a Birmingham drug rehabilitation centre in a bid to highlight the needs of "vulnerable" sections of society. Caroline Spelman, who is also Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, said programmes to help drug users are essential. Ms Spelman is visiting the centre at its Kings Heath base. COUNCIL WINS HIGH COURT CASE Birmingham City Council has won a High Court ruling to send destitute Dutch women and children of Somali origin back to the Netherlands. Mr Justice Moses ruled the council was entitled to take into account the "enormous financial burden" caused by the influx of the 265 families. He dismissed test case challenges by three single mothers with 13 children. OAP DIES AFTER BUS COLLISION A 70-year-old woman who was injured in a collision with a bus in Wolverhampton has died two weeks after the accident. A West Midlands Police spokesman made a renewed appeal for witnesses to the incident, which happened in Wednesfield Road, Springfield, on Sunday May 12. The victim, from Heath Town, was in collision with a bus which was travelling towards the city centre. POLL TO FIND TOP CANAL FEATURE Canal enthusiasts are launching a quest near Warwick to identify the "seven wonders" of the inland waterways. British Waterways said it was seeking the views of the public, who will be invited to vote for their favourite canal feature. The three-month poll is due to be launched at Hatton Locks, which is located on the Grand Union Canal. BLIND PENSIONER ROBBED IN ROAD A blind pensioner has suffered a broken shoulder when she was dragged to the floor by a mugger in Birmingham. The 78-year-old woman had her shopping bag containing cash when the robber struck near a bus stop in New Street, Frankley, said a police spokesman. The offender was described as 5ft 7ins and thin. He was wearing a dark hooded top and white tracksuit bottoms. SEARCH FOR CAR AFTER CRASH Police are trying to trace a white or light-coloured car which was travelling behind another vehicle when it crashed killing a woman in Stoke-on-Trent. Staffordshire police said the accident happened in the early hours on March 16 on the A53 Cobridge Road in Hanley. The 20-year-old woman who died was a rear seat passenger in a Peugeot 205 which collided with a tree. DOG BITE GIRL TO LEAVE HOSPITAL A five-year-old girl who was savaged by two dogs in Wolverhampton is preparing to leave hospital just two weeks after suffering horrific bite wounds. Leah Preston will leave Birmingham's Diana, Princess of Wales Children's Hospital within the next few days. Her mother, Diane Reynolds, has said she may campaign for a change in the law governing dangerous dogs. BREWERY TO LAUNCH JUBILEE ALE Staffordshire's Shugborough Hall, which boasts Britain's only log-fired brewhouse, is to launch its own ale to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee. The 5% ABV Jubilee Ale is being made at the estate, the ancestral home of Lord Lichfield, by brewmasters from the Titanic Brewery in Burslem. Titanic began brewing at the museum to demonstrate the process to visitors. 'A' SIGNS WARN ROBBERS Five foot 'A' frame signs warning people of police operations are the latest crime fighting tools being used by the east Aston neighbourhood team. The bright orange signs are being used are part of Operations Safer Streets II, a force wide initiative to crack down on robberies. Sergeant Chris Stanbridge said: "We're using the signs for high profile work on the streets when the team is deployed. "Reaction from members of the public has been really positive. Many feel much safer and it certainly makes the criminals think twice about committing crime in the area. "The officers are here to improve the quality of life for residents and we'll continue to mount operations to tackle issues such as robberies," he added. West Midlands Police is one of 10 forces around the country involved in Operation Safer Streets II, the national Robbery Reduction Initiative and are working closely alongside other criminal justice agencies to reduce street robbery. The force reports back the progress it has made on a regular basis to the Home Office. WEST MIDLANDS POLICE TAKE PART IN BIRMINGHAM PRIDE Recruitment staff from West Midlands Police will again take part in the Birmingham Pride celebrations this weekend. Thousands of people from across the country are expected to visit the event, taking place in Birmingham City Centre on Sunday 2 and Monday 3 June. Besides Recruiting, the force will be represented by members the Rainbow Club (an internal forum that offers support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people) and Pink Shield, a partnership set up to look at issues facing the gay community in relation to crime, social inclusion and quality of life. Recruitment marketing co-ordinator David Vidgen said: "People are beginning to realise we are an inclusive organisation and groups such as the Rainbow Club show the force's commitment to ensuring equal opportunity for all. "This will be a perfect opportunity for people to meet local officers and support staff and find out what it's like to work for West Midlands Police. We offer a varied career where no two days are same. If people take time to find out more about the role, they'd find it's one of the most diverse occupations around." West Midlands Police has a positive equal opportunities policy to ensure all applicants are treated fairly and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. POLICE PRAISE BIRMINGHAM CITY FOOTBALL CLUB Chief Superintendent John Perkins, commander at Stechford operational command unit, which covers Birmingham City Football Club, has expressed his thanks for the way the club and its fans have conducted themselves over the last season. "Birmingham City FC has been very co-operative with the way we deal with match days at St Andrews," he said. "They also understand the impact on policing such matches have on local communities." For some time the club has worked hard to improve the quality of stewarding, which has meant officers are not always required inside the ground during many home matches. He added: "They have embarked on a full training programme and also used professional stewards enabling them to deal with most crowd safety issues and prevent any minor disorder from developing into a more serious problem. "Clearly, there is more potential for disorder before and after matches, when opposing fans can meet in the nearby streets. Birmingham City Football Club recognise this and have assisted in providing additional finance to ensure sufficient numbers of officers outside the ground before and after matches to prevent any disorder, and during matches to patrol the areas near the ground. "I've been in charge of policing the area for over five years and our relationship with the club has gone from strength to strength. Together we've been working hard to make the ground and the nearby communities safe and free from the potential impact of a mindless few who may try and cause violence and disorder. "We share information and intelligence and have been very successful in bringing many known troublemakers to justice. Thankfully, the courts have imposed banning orders on them which means we can actively ensure they don't return. "There was a time when we experienced considerable trouble outside the ground, but through our tactics and partnership the ground is a much safer place for families and true supporters who only want to enjoy the football. "We are already working with Birmingham City to develop our plans for the next season. Clearly, life in the Premiership will be different but I'm confident our relationship with the club will go from strength to strength and fans will be able to enjoy matches free from intimidation and fear." ELDERLY WARNED OF DISTRACTION BURGLARS Police in North Birmingham are urging elderly residents to be more
vigilant when answering callers at the door. The warning follows a number
of distraction burglaries in the area covering Ward End, Saltley, Alum
Rock and Nechells. Constable Sarah Steed said: "We want to reassure people
that officers are constantly working to reduce this type of crime. However,
we feel elderly members of the public need to take more care especially
in cases where they live alone. "Basically, they shouldn't open the door
to anyone they are not sure of. If they are in doubt they can always contact
their local police station. Genuine visitors would normally make an appointment
before hand, so no-one should feel pressured to open the door when they
don't want to." Police also urge any suspicious activity to be reported
to the police on 0845 113 5000.
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