Policeman who abused boys a 'sex predator all his life'
Key suspect named in takeaway murder
NHS trusts' deficits run into millions of pounds
Updates from Friday 4 November 2016
Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather
It will stay dry overnight for all of us, but with largely clear skies and light winds it will turn cold, with a widespread grass frost likely forming by the morning. Lows of 5C (41F)
Sara Blizzard with the afternoon weather forecast for the West Midlands
Latest from the newsroom:
- Up to 586 West Midlands Police officers have been assaulted on duty so far this year, police figures show
- Seven people are arrested and 10 motorbikes seized after a gang of bikers caused chaos on public roads in Solihull and Birmingham
- Wolves' caretaker boss Rob Edwards is expected to remain in charges for Saturday's home game against Derby
A custody sergeant had a case to answer for misconduct after a man who had taken cocaine died after his arrest, the police watchdog says.
Read MoreScheme follows bodycams trial showing significant reduction in complaints against officers, external.
Ged Scott
BBC Sport
New Aston Villa manager, Steve Bruce, has made a second addition to his backroom team by appointing his former Manchester United team-mate Gary Walsh as goalkeeping coach.
Walsh, who's 48 and also worked for Bruce at his previous club Hull City, follows the appointment of Stephen Clemence, another who was on the Tigers' backroom team, as first-team coach.
Image source, EmpicsWalsh becomes Villa's fourth off-field recruit since the sacking of Roberto di Matteo and the consequent departure of his backroom team, assistant manager Steve Clarke, who initially became caretaker boss, first-team coach Kevin Bond and goalkeeping coach Massimo Battara.
Villa have also brought in much-travelled former Birmingham City, Sunderland, Everton and Shrewsbury Town midfielder Ian Atkins, 59, as their new chief scout/head of European recruitment.
Birmingham Central Mosque and Muslim Women's Network UK, also based in the city, will give evidence to the Home Affairs Committee on Sharia councils in the UK.
More than 100 Muslim women have complained about their treatment under two government inquiries into Sharia law.
Image source, ReutersThe inquiries - one ordered by Theresa May when she was home secretary, and another by the home affairs select committee - are ongoing.
The councils are tribunals often used to settle disputes within the Muslim community.
Ben Godfrey
BBC Midlands Today
Here's what it will look like:
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BBC WM
- Seven bikers are arrested and ten bikes seized, some of which had been stolen earlier in the day, as 200 riders 'run amok' in Birmingham and Solihull
- Footage is released of a volley of fireworks being let off on a police van in Balsall Heath
- Wolverhampton station's £120m rebuild plan approved by the council
A police officer failed to ensure a man who died in custody and had taken drugs was been medically examined, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has ruled.
The police watchdog's ruling said Mark Yafai, from Birmingham, told the custody sergeant he had taken cocaine after he was arrested for a disturbance in Coventry in July last year.
He became unwell about two hours later and died. A coroner ruled his death was drug-related.
The IPCC said West Midlands Police agreed with its findings that the sergeant had a case to answer for misconduct. The officer should also have placed him on a higher level of observation.
He has since been spoken to by a senior officer, the watchdog said.
Almost 600 police officers have been assaulted on duty in the West Midlands so far this year, says the Police Federation.
The body's interim chairman is calling on the government to "get tough" on those who attack police officers and other emergency service workers.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe force has launched its own 10-point plan to ensure victims are adequately supported after figures showed there were 586 assaults on officers in the nine months to the end of September this year.
Quote MessageI am deeply concerned that a growing number of people seem to think it’s acceptable to assault police officers - it is not acceptable and nor should it ever be considered so. We are experiencing ongoing cuts to police budgets, our officers are stretched as they try to meet public demand and anything that further impacts on the safety and availability of officers has to be tackled."
Tom Cuddeford,, West Midlands Police Federation
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
Thanks to Paul WIlde who sent us these pics while taking a lunchtime stroll around the sunny Lickey Hills.
Image source, Paul Wilde
Image source, Paul WildeMore footage has emerged of the 200 or so bikers who caused disruption in Birmingham and Solihull last night.
Police seized several bikes and made seven arrests.
The gathering, described as a Halloween Ride Out, was labelled as "loutish, criminal behaviour, external" by police.
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After the warmest Halloween on record, bookmaker Coral is offering odds of 8-1 for snow to fall in Birmingham before the week is out.
With temperatures forecast to drop, bookies are taking bets on where the white stuff will fall first.
Quote MessageThe odds are now suggesting that the cold spell is here to stay and a white Christmas could be on the cards."
Coral spokesman
A man has been charged with attempted murder after two men were stabbed during what police described as a "10-minute crime spree" in Brownhills.
Renroy Johnson, 32, Tamar Close, Brownhills, is also accused of assault, affray, dangerous driving, two robberies, wounding and possession of a knife.
Two men remain in hospital in serious but stable condition after incidents on Sunday afternoon.
The new Bromsgrove railway station is currently closed for £100m improvements.
Bromsgrove station reopened after a £24m revamp in July.
The current work is being carried out until Sunday and will allow the line to be electrified.
Network Rail sent us a few pictures of the work being done this weekend:
Image source, Network RailWork under way at Bromsgrove Rail Station
Neighbourhood officers inside a police van were pelted with fireworks and eggs in Birmingham.
Read MoreOfficers were called to Balsall Heath Park, Taunton Road, Birmingham, at about 20:30 BST on 22 October following reports of anti-social behaviour in the area.
A 16-year-old has been arrested after fireworks were fired and eggs thrown at a police van in Balsall Heath, West Midlands Police say.
The van, carrying a number of officers, was forced to pull over by Balsall Heath park last Saturday evening after coming under attack, the force said.
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A 16-year-old was detained at the time and spoken to with his parents.
But police said a second 16-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of public order offences and criminal damage. He was released on police bail.
Four other teenagers have been spoken to and further inquiries are being made to identify everyone involved, the spokesman added.
The initial 999 call said a tanker had exploded on the site in Wednesbury but this turned out to be incorrect, with the police saying the man was burning fencing when he fell into a tank, external.
A gang of up to 200 bikers "rode amok" on public roads in Birmingham and Solihull, police say.
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