Arrest in Rowley Regis as hundreds of cannabis plants seized
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BBC News
2 minutes ago
- BBC News
West Midlands Police VR training helps fight crimes against women
Virtual reality technology is being used to train new police officers to provide an insight into male crimes against Midlands Police has said it is the first force in the UK to partner with training provider Calico, to deliver the interactive sessions to 700 new recruits by wear virtual reality headsets, which places them in the shoes of a woman travelling through Birmingham after force said the classes were part of a wider approach to address crimes such as stalking, harassment, rape and domestic abuse. The simulation allows officers to make decisions throughout, following four different routes through the city via park, taxi, and each scene, users hear the real voices and lived experiences of women, which helps them fully immerse themselves in the experience and understand the incident from the victim's point of Midlands Police said its male officers were benefiting the most from the project. PC Aaron Whittingslow said: "I've never experienced the world as a woman does. "The session has thrown me into that world through the virtual reality goggles and we've had some good discussions with female colleagues."It's really made me think about how I'd support victims, how my actions may be perceived and, as a new dad, the kind of world my daughter will grow up in."The force said while colleagues already completed a variety of training to ensure they were able to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), this scheme would better equip officers to protect victims. Assistant Chief Constable Jen Mattinson, force lead for VAWG said: "I'm proud to see West Midlands Police leading the way by providing training opportunities like this, in our committed approach to tackling violence against women and girls."This session is one of many tools that we are investing in as a force, to protect the communities we serve, and we will continually invest time, money and effort to combat VAWG." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Sky News
4 hours ago
- Sky News
How e-bike riders are doing double the speed limit - and many of them work for fast food delivery firms
It's lunchtime on Birmingham's New Street. Close to its many restaurants, food delivery riders are congregating on their bikes. The area is packed with shoppers and workers. PC Paige Gartlan is approaching with other officers. She's on the lookout for illegally modified e-bikes - and she knows she'll find them here. "You can physically tell by looking at the bike that it's generally going to be illegal - the battery pack is taped on to the sides and generally the size of the motor that's on the back wheel," she explains. Sky News has been invited on an operation by West Midlands Police to find these bikes and get them off the streets. PC Gartlan has been hit by one before. She's had to tackle a rider to the floor after he drove into her. Within minutes, she's spotted a suspicious-looking bike. The rider makes a run for it - followed by plain-clothed officers. PC Gartlan tests the bike - it's showing a top speed of 52km/hr on the speedometer - just over 30mph. The speed limit for e-bikes in the UK is 15.5mph when using electric power for assistance. I look up the street and another two riders have been detained. In less than an hour, officers have confiscated four bikes - all were being ridden by fast food delivery drivers. The commotion is attracting a lot of attention. "They are dangerous," Sandra, who has just finished work, tells me. She's stood watching the riders being questioned. She says she's had near-misses herself and is worried for the safety of the elderly and children. It's not just West Midlands police officers here - immigration officials are carrying out checks too. They're involved in a nationwide operation, which has seen more than 7,000 arrests in the last year - a 50% increase on last year. Matthew Foster, the immigration enforcement lead officer for the West Midlands, tells me they've already found one individual who has entered the UK unlawfully. "He's been detained," he says, "to affect his removal from the UK." Further down the street, police are loading illegally modified bikes on to a van - they're destined to be crushed. One of them had belonged to Demoz. He's on his way home, carrying a big box with the logo of one of the main fast food delivery firms on it. He tells me he used to have an illegal bike, but he thought his new one was legal. "I make a mistake, I have to say sorry, I will do better for the future," he says. I get in touch with the big delivery firms; Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat. Their representatives say they constantly remind workers of their safety obligations, and that they're all working closely with the government to increase security checks on riders. As he leaves, Demoz, now bike-free, tells me he's thinking of changing his job.
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Hit-and-run drunk driver wins fight against deportation despite death crash
Immigration judges have blocked his removal despite hearing his offending had escalated A HIT-AND-RUN drink-driver who caused the death of a pedestrian has won his fight against deportation to Lithuania. Sergejus Aksiotovas, 54, pictured above, came to Britain in 2013 and lived in Wolverhampton before being jailed for five years in 2021 after knocking down a 63-year-old man. Advertisement The Home Office sought to deport him but immigration judges have blocked his removal despite hearing his offending had escalated. Aksiotovas, a dad released from prison on licence in November 2023, had a previous conviction for being in charge of a vehicle with excess alcohol. The Home Office argued an immigration judge did not adequately take into account the risks he posed. But legal documents stated: 'The judge accepted he is genuinely remorseful, that he completed an alcohol awareness programme in prison and that he has abstained from alcohol for the last four years. Advertisement "The judge also accepted that he is a man who is willing to learn from his mistakes and rehabilitate." It comes after Home Office ministers were slammed for being unable to say how many foreign criminal deportations are being blocked by European human rights laws. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has vowed to tighten the laws following a massive backlash against foreign offenders dodging deportations on spurious ECHR grounds. Last month a man was seen fleeing across Heathrow Airport tarmac after fleeing security guards ahead of a deportation flight. Advertisement 1 Convicted drink-driver Sergejus Aksiutovas has had his deportation blocked by immigration judges Credit: West Midlands Police
