BBC Local Live: Birmingham and the Black Country

Summary

M54 body: Fresh plea for info
Pulis confirms bid for Schneiderlin
Three teens questioned over carjackings
Updates from Friday 23 December 2016

Live Reporting

HMP Birmingham 'tense' as disturbances break out elsewherepublished at 16:26 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Danny Shaw
BBC Home Affairs Correspondent
It's emerged that there was an incident at Cardiff Prison yesterday involving prisoners transferred from Birmingham after Friday's riot.
Around four of them are believed to have barricaded themselves in a cell in protest at the move, but no one was injured.
There was also an incident at Hull Prison involving Birmingham prisoners plus minor outbreaks of trouble at several other jails over the weekend - more than there would usually be.
The situation at Birmingham today is described as "tense" as an investigation continues into the causes of the disturbance.
Prison riots followed 'staffing warnings'published at 16:09 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
A series of prison riots followed repeated warnings about low staffing levels across the estate, a watchdog says.
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'Four hundred prisoners' moved out of HMP Birmingham after riotpublished at 16:09 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Breaking
Danny Shaw
BBC Home Affairs Correspondent
BBC News understands that 400 prisoners have been moved out of Birmingham Prison since the riot on Friday.
This is far more than the initial figure of 240 given by the Ministry of Justice.
The Prison Officers Association says it believes that 600 inmates will eventually be transferred from the jail.
Goodyear factory to close after 90 yearspublished at 15:59 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
One of Wolverhampton's major employers, the Goodyear tyre factory, will close for good on Tuesday after 90 years.
The company made the announcement in June and since then several hundred workers have been made redundant.
Calls for the factory to be kept open were ignored.
Unions say workers were promised help to find alternative jobs, but claim this hasn't happened.
Your Questions: Coconuts in canalspublished at 15:35 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Jennifer Meierhans
BBC News Online
Peter Weston used Your Questions to ask why he had seen coconuts floating in canals.
Journalist Rahul Verma told The Canal & River Trust:, external "The peculiar pairing of coconuts and canals is a familiar scene in Britain, particularly where the waterways meander through localities with a sizeable Hindu population, such as around the Walsall and Coventry canals."
Hindu scholar Swami Chaitanya said coconuts were offerings to Maa Ganga, goddess of the River Ganges.
Image source, Coconut
"Hindus worship India’s great rivers, and especially Maa Ganga, because they are the elixir of life; water is where all life begins," he said.
But why coconuts?
"Coconuts are the fruit of the Gods – it’s a pure fruit with remarkable qualities, it takes in salt water and produces sweet fruit and it’s neatly packaged too. Also it’s a symbol of fertility, it reflects the womb, and has human qualities – it has two eyes, a mouth and hair."
Police name man stabbed in 'altercation'published at 15:19 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
A man who died after being stabbed in Birmingham has been named.
Ibrahim Ismail, 23, was involved in what police are calling, external an "altercation".
A post-mortem test showed Mr Ismail died as a result of stab wounds to his chest and back.
He was found in Moseley Street, Highgate in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Quote Message
We are still piecing together the circumstances of Mr Ismail's death and would urge anyone with information to get in touch with my team."
Det Insp Paul Joyce
Latest: Paedophile, aged 101, jailed; Justice secretary to discuss Birmingham prison riotpublished at 15:00 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Steve Hermon
Journalist, BBC WM
This afternoon's headlines for Birmingham and the Black Country include:
- A 101-year-old man has been jailed for 13 years for committing 30 child sex offences
- The Justice Secretary will address MPs on the riot at HMP Birmingham which saw hundreds of inmates wreak havoc in the jail on Friday
- After almost 90 years, one of Wolverhampton's major employers, the Goodyear tyre factory, will close for good this week
Pay deal agreed for 3,200 JCB staffpublished at 14:40 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Jodie Looker
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke
Thousands of workers at Staffordshire digger maker JCB have accepted a pay rise of 2.2% for next year, according to the firm and the GMB union.
They say the agreement was reached after a vote and is part of a three-year wage deal for the 3,200 shop floor employees.
JCB say the deal will affect staff at its plants in Rocester, Uttoxeter, Cheadle, Rugeley, Wrexham and Foston, Derbyshire.
Your pictures: Sutton Coldfield pretty in pinkpublished at 14:24 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
BBC Weather Watchers
What a lovely candyfloss-pink night's sky.
BBC Weather Watcher annapurna snapped this brilliant picture in Sutton Coldfield.
Image source, annapurna
If you've got a picture you'd like to share, sign up to become a BBC Weather Watcher here.
Signal fault causing rail disruptionpublished at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
A signal fault is causing disruption to journeys between Aston railway station and Birmingham New Street.
Services may be cancelled, delayed by 30 minutes, or replaced by buses.
Disruption is expected to continue until 16:00.
Details here, external.
Man, 101, jailed over sex offencespublished at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
A 101-year-old man is jailed for 13 years for committing child sex offences.
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Low staffing levels behind prison violence, says watchdogpublished at 13:45 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
A spate of prison riots erupted after warnings were raised repeatedly about low staffing levels across the estate, according to a watchdog.
John Thornhill, president of the National Council of Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB), said the disturbance at HMP Birmingham was "yet more evidence" of rising levels of violence.
He said IMBs - which provide a monitoring presence in every prison in England and Wales - have regularly questioned staffing levels and regimes across many establishments in recent years.
He warned low staffing levels meant prisoners were denied access to a range of facilities. "They become frustrated, tension and violence increase and become more widespread. The result, as we have seen in recent weeks, is an increase in riots that damage the system and individuals."
Later today Justice Secretary Liz Truss will address MPs on the riot at HMP Birmingham which saw hundreds of inmates wreak havoc in the jail.
Sorry lorry: HGV 'fly-parking'published at 13:32 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
There are calls for more action over so-called HGV fly-parking in Rugeley.
MP for Cannock Chase Amanda Milling says she's been contacted by many residents and businesses frustrated by lorries parking overnight in the town.
She wants more provision for parked HGVs included in plans drawn up for distribution centres.
Quote Message
I am getting an increasing number of complaints from residents and businesses from Rugeley who are understandably fed up of having large lorries littering our streets and business parks. Despite months of dialogue with various organisations they are still faced with the problem of HGVs parking outside their homes and businesses."
Amanda Milling, MP
Coming up on Midlands Today: Tyre factory closes its doorspublished at 13:17 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
BBC Midlands Today
After almost 90 years, one of Wolverhampton's major employers, the Goodyear tyre factory, will close for good this week.
The company made the announcement back in June 2015 and since then several hundred workers have been made redundant.
Unions say workers were promised help to find alternative jobs but this didn't happen.
Our business correspondent Peter Plisner will be live from the factory on BBC1 from 13:30.
'Never too late to speak out' says NSPCC after sex abuser jailed aged 101published at 13:02 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Retired haulier Ralph Clarke, 101, has been jailed for 13 years for "systematic abuse" against children between 1974 and 1983.
Some of the offences took place in the cab of his truck.
The NSPCC has spoken of the "harrowing ordeal" of Clarke's victims.
Quote Message
Clarke not only inflicted appalling abuse on his victims, he put them through the harrowing ordeal of a crown court trial – and did not show a shred of remorse throughout. This case sends out a clear message that it is never too late for survivors of abuse to speak out. The trial could not have happened without their courage, and it is vital they now get the support they need to help them move forward with their lives."
NSPCC spokesperson
Victims of 101-year-old paedophile live with 'psychological scars'published at 12:43 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
A 101-year-old man has been jailed for 13 years for committing 30 child sex offences.
West Midlands Police says Ralph Clarke has become the oldest person to be jailed for a criminal offence.
DC Emma Fennon spoke of the impact on his victims.
Image source, West Midlands Police
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They have lived with the emotional and psychological scars from that abuse for decades. I hope they can take some comfort from today’s verdict and finally move on with their lives."
DC Emma Fennon, West Midlands Police's Historical Sex Offences Unit
Sex offender aged 101 'controlled child victims by fear'published at 12:20 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Phil Mackie
Midlands correspondent, BBC News
The 101-year-old paedophile jailed earlier for historical sex abuse against children "used fear and intimidation to control the victims and sexually abuse them", the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) says.
The CPS said prosecuting Ralph Clarke - thought to be the oldest person convicted in British legal history - was in the public interest because of the "serious nature" of his offending.
It says, external Clarke's "age and well-being were taken into account".
Quote Message
Due to the serious nature of the offences, breach of trust and vulnerability of the victims, it was decided that a prosecution was in the public interest. Ralph Clarke used fear and intimidation to control the victims and sexually abuse them. He took full advantage of their young age."
Crown Prosecution Service, Spokesperson
Paedophile jailed: Passage of time no barrier to justice, judge sayspublished at 11:53 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Phil Mackie
Midlands correspondent, BBC News
Paedophile Ralph Clarke, aged 101, has been sentenced this morning to 13 years in prison for historical sex offences against children.
Judge Richard Bond said Clarke "was fully able to follow proceedings" and victims could "rest assured that any complaint will be treated with sympathy and compassion".
He said: "The passage of time doesn't mean abusers will escape justice."
Clarke's campaign of abuse was carried out in the 1970s and 80s.
Image source, PA
Paedophile, aged 101, shows 'no remorse'published at 11:35 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Phil Mackie
Midlands correspondent, BBC News
Jailing Ralph Clarke, 101, Judge Richard Bond told the paedophile before a packed court "you have no remorse for what you did".
He said: "You told the jury it was just one of those things. No it wasn't."
Clarke, from Erdington, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for historical child sex offences.
Sex offender, aged 101: Sentencing 'takes into account' his agepublished at 11:28 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2016
Phil Mackie
Midlands correspondent, BBC News
Sentencing 101-year-old paedophile Ralph Clarke to 13 years in prison, judge Richard Bond said he had to take into account the defendant's age, predicting the effects on him would be enormous.
Clarke's infirmity meant, the judge said, sentencing in a “measured and reflective manner”, but the seriousness of sustained offending meant a lengthy sentence was justified.
Sentences for individual offences against each of three victims will run concurrently, but each of the three totals - four years, four years and five years - will run consecutively, 13 years in all.