Latest news with #AcocksGreen
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Suspected people smuggler arrested in Birmingham after BBC probe
A man suspected of being part of an organised crime group that smuggled people to the UK in small boats has been from the National Crime Agency (NCA) said they earlier detained the 22-year-old Iranian at an address in Acocks Green in Birmingham on suspicion of conspiring to facilitate illegal arrest followed a BBC investigation into the activities of a people smuggling group operating in northern France and the West man is now in custody and due to be questioned, NCA officers said. "People smugglers operate for profit [and] without concern for the safety of those they transport," said the force's regional head of investigations, Jacque Beer."Our investigation continues with the evidence we have gathered today."The NCA said it currently had 91 ongoing investigations into networks or individuals in the top tier of organised immigration crime or human trafficking. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Yahoo
Biker, 29, dies following crash with van in Birmingham
A motorcyclist has died after a collision with a van in Birmingham this morning. Emergency services had rushed to the A41 Warwick Road, in Acocks Green, just before 7am, this morning, Friday, August 1. Police said the man, aged 29, died at the scene. READ MORE: A41 Acocks Green crash live as police close road after 'serious collision' READ MORE: Tributes to tragic Birmingham siblings who died in Spain as messages say 'RIP sweet angels' Road closures remain in place from the junction of Fox Hollies Road to Flint Green Road. In a statement, police said: "We're appealing for witnesses after a motorcyclist was killed in a collision with a van today. "We were called to the A41 Warwick Road in Acocks Green, just before 7am this morning (1 August). "The man, aged 29, sadly died at the scene. "The motorcyclist's family are being supported by specially trained officers at this tragic time. "The van driver was shaken but not injured. "Road closures remain in place from the junction of Fox Hollies Road to Flint Green Road while our investigation continues. "If you have any information, CCTV or dashcam footage from the scene around that time that could help our investigation call us on 101 quoting log number 605 of 1 August. "You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
Yahoo
27-07-2025
- Yahoo
Man dies after concerns raised for welfare of occupant in vehicle
A man has died after concerns were raised for the welfare of an occupant in a vehicle. The alarm was raised for a member of public who was inside a vehicle in Birmingham. Emergency services were called to the scene on Easton Grove in Acocks Green. READ MORE: Car found with wheel hanging off and dodgy insurance - but that wasn't worst part Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join West Midlands Police was called to the scene at around 7.30pm on Friday, July 25, with paramedics from West Midlands Ambulance Service also called. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. West Midlands Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious. A file was being prepared for the coroner. A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: "We were called to Easton Grove, Birmingham, at around 7.30pm on Friday (25 July) to concerns for the welfare of a person in a vehicle. "A man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Man seriously injured after Handsworth stabbing as attackers still on run Police warning sent to protestors ahead of village's latest demonstration "His death is not currently being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner."
The Sun
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
High street chain with over 500 locations shuts long-standing branch and launches huge closing down sale
A POPULAR high street chain with more than 500 locations is shutting one of its branches — and everything inside must go. The Works in Acocks Green, Birmingham, which has been a familiar face on Warwick Road for over 20 years, is holding a huge closing down sale, with posters in the window reading: 'Sorry, we are closing! Everything must go.' 2 The stationery and books chain sits between Peacocks and New Image opticians but now appears to be preparing to vacate the unit. The closure follows several other big-name exits from the area, including Costa Coffee, which shut earlier this year. A spokesperson for The Works said: 'We are currently in negotiations with our landlord regarding our store in Acocks Green and would like to reassure customers that we're doing all we can to retain a presence in the town.' Locals have taken to social media to share their disappointment, calling the once-thriving centre 'finished'. One anonymous resident wrote: 'Can remember years ago you could spend hours mooching around all the shops they had... now all we have is barbers and nail bars. Such a shame.' Ann Kain added: 'One of the few decent shops left in The Green. What a dump now.' The closing down sale has seen prices slashed, with many items now going for less than half their usual price as the store clears its shelves. It comes as the high street faces mounting pressure across the UK, with more well-known names either cutting down locations or disappearing entirely. The Original Factory Shop is preparing to shut ten shops, including nine set to close this month. Why are shops closing stores? The firm previously warned some locations were no longer sustainable. Poundland is also closing its Surrey Quays branch in London this week, with a further 200 stores reportedly at risk. A final decision on the sale of the chain is expected in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, long-running department store Daniel of Ealing will shut its doors for good on June 8 after 120 years in business. It has launched a massive clearance sale to mark the closure. Iceland will also shut its College Square, Margate branch on June 21, though the supermarket has not confirmed the exact reason. Staff will be offered other roles within the business. Ginger, a family-run clothing store operating since the 1970s, will close for good on June 7 after nearly five decades on the high street. With more shops closing and fewer new businesses moving in, many local centres like Acocks Green are struggling to maintain footfall and retain a mix of useful shops. Why are retailers closing shops? EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre's decline. The Sun's business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors. In many cases, retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping. Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April 2025, will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40. In some cases, retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed. The problem is that when a big shop closes, footfall falls across the local high street, which puts more shops at risk of closing. Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers, who want to be able to get easy, free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns. Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead. In some cases, stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust, as in the case of Carpetright, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Paperchase, Ted Baker, The Body Shop, Topshop and Wilko to name a few. What's increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online. They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand, but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. 2
The Guardian
09-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Black and Asian people went overboard for Britain, says WW2 veteran
'Most black people went overboard and tried hard to make sure that they did their best for Britain,' says Prince Albert Jacob, a 99-year-old veteran from Trinidad who joined the RAF in 1943. Sat in a hotel lobby in London after a busy week of VE Day celebrations, Jacob describes feeling disappointed at findings from a recent survey that showed British people remained largely unaware of the black and Asian contribution to the second world war. 'That was my experience. Most of us tried our best to do our best for the country. I don't want to upset anyone, but I think it shows ignorance. How can you not know? Especially today with what's going on in this world,' he says. Jacob, who grew up in Port of Spain, Trinidad, left life as he knew at 17 to join the Royal Air Force, travelling to the US and Britain to repair planes. He still remembers the day the allies formally accepted Germany's surrender in 1945. 'I was stationed in Carlisle at the time. It was a shock. I wouldn't say you couldn't believe it, but it was a shock. It was a fantastic experience in the sense the first thing that comes to mind is going home. I'm going where it's warm again.' After the war, Jacobs went on to represent the GB team in running, before establishing a 30-year career as postmaster of Acocks Green post office. For 80 years, however, missing from his jackets were the war medals he was told he would receive after the war. At the time Jacob was unaware that you had to apply for the medals to receive them. That all changed two years ago, when he got talking to a neighbour. 'We had [Jacob and his wife] been living in Knowle for nearly 50 years and one day, one of my neighbours mentioned to me about the Royal Air Force. I told her that I used to be in the air force during the war and she couldn't believe it. I gave her my details and she got in touch with the military about my medals.' His face beams as he remembers the day the war medal, defence medal and a veteran's badge finally arrived in the post. 'I never want to take them off. Is it the right thing or the wrong thing? I don't know. I'm just thankful that people realise the contribution and appreciate what we did,' says Jacob. On receiving the medals, the veteran was quickly thrown into the media spotlight. The organisation, Why Are West Indians (WAWI), which works to promote 500 years of Caribbean contribution to British heritage, got in contact with Jacob to share his story. Reflecting on his experience in the war, Jacob remembers various instances where he experienced racism. Yet that did not take away away from what he describes as a thrilling period of his life. 'Parts of it were definitely exciting. Part of it was new experience. We got to attend lots of dances. We definitely knew more about the English than the English knew about us.' The best day of his life, however, came two months before his 100th birthday. To round off a week of VE celebrations Jacob found himself sat one row behind the king at Horse Guards Parade on Thursday. 'I had the opportunity of the king shaking my hand and wishing me well,' he said. 'It's a dream, I'm in heaven. It's something I will never forget – the most exciting day of my life, I would say.' Celebrating VE Day will always remain important for Jacob. 'Its a chance to appreciate those [who fought in the war] that are still alive. For those who have left us, we can't thank them but we can remember them for what they have done.'
