Latest news with #MerciaPolice
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Lorry crashes into building and parked vehicles in Ludlow
A lorry has crashed into parked vehicles and a building in the early hours. Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said it received a call about the crash at Lower Galdeford Road in Ludlow at 00:26 BST on Monday. The fire service sent four fire appliances, including a rescue tender, which were mobilised from Craven Arms, Ludlow and Mercia Police, who were also in attendance, said Lower Galdeford Road would be closed by the Ludlow Youth Centre "for a significant amount of time" and asked the public to avoid the road if possible. The emergency services have not yet confirmed which building the lorry crashed into. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
17-04-2025
- BBC News
Police to train hotel staff to spot child sexual exploitation
Hotel staff are getting free training from police on how to spot the signs of child sexual Mercia Police is offering online sessions, led by specialist officers, to staff in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, with the first scheduled for 29 aim of the training – part of a national scheme to educate businesses such as hotels, pubs and taxi companies – is to help people understand what child sexual exploitation is, how to spot the signs and what they can Ch Insp Ed Slough said: "We know that child exploitation, in particular sexual exploitation, can often take place in hotels." He added: "We know that those working in hotels are in a prime position to spot the early signs of exploitation and flag them to us."Staff will get guidance on questions to ask to gain further information, safely and discreetly, which can then be passed to police allowing them to respond are also carrying out covert "mystery shopper" visits to hotels to see how staff respond to scenarios involving young people who could be at risk, in order to understand where there are gaps in knowledge and training. Ask for Angela The project follows concerns, recently exposed by the BBC, over another scheme to protect people in UK pubs and that had signed up to the Ask for Angela initiative were not implementing the scheme, an investigation for Angela, which allows people in fear to use the code word "Angela" to get help, aims to provide a lifeline for people who believe they are in Yardley MP Jess Phillips, minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, last year covertly tested the scheme and said the response she saw was wholly unsatisfactory. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
West Midlands faces sharp rise in electric vehicle cable theft
The theft of electric vehicle (EV) charging cables is becoming a "significant issue" in the West Midlands. That's what three companies that install these chargers have told the BBC, calling for wider action from both the police and the government. InstaVolt, which owns EV charging points in the region, said that 13 of its sites had been targeted 33 Mercia Police said it was "acting proactively to identify offenders" and take preventative measures. Drivers of EVs in the region said they were concerned about the growing Singh, who has been driving EVs for about six years, said: "If I come to an EV station where the cable has been cut, it's going to ruin the ability for me to charge the car. So it's a concern, for sure." Jo Malam said: "I can understand why they'd be taking them, and it's an easy gain I suppose. "To get to a charging point and find that there's no head on to charge it would be a massive problem because normally you've not got enough energy to get to the next one."Keith Burry said: "We're all trying to do our bit for the environment, and we need to charge."If vandals and thieves take chargers away we're not going to go forward, it's not going to help."It's going to give more people concerns and may even stop people buying electric cars." Chief executive of InstaVolt Delvin Lane said the thefts had cost his company about £410,000 since November 2023, which he described as "frustrating"."This isn't just an InstaVolt problem, this is an industry problem. The biggest impact is to drivers," he said.A spokesperson for Osprey, another company in the area, said they had seen a sharp rise in thefts and were rolling out CCTV coverage and lights to try to reduce them."We've also introduced alarm systems that trigger when cables are tampered with, as well as physical protections like cable sheaths with built-in traceable liquid," they added. 'New and emerging' crime Another EV charger installer, Motor Fuel Group, also reported an increase in organised crime targeting their work, including the theft of charging crimes were disruptive to their work due to the repairs needed and meant the firm lost money replacing them, a spokesperson aimed at tackling the thefts including using tougher cables and marking equipment with ink which could be traced, spokespeople for two of the firms said. Figures from West Mercia Police, released in response to a Freedom of Information request by the BBC, revealed there was one reported EV cable theft from 2022-23 but 19 in Daniel Townsend described it as a "new and emerging" crime and they were working with firms to try to tackle it."We have mapped electrical charging points in our communities so we can respond quickly to prevent any further offences if an charing point has been targeted," he added. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram.
BBC News
02-04-2025
- BBC News
West Mercia Police seize £500k in money laundering barbershop raids
Police have seized more than £500,000 from barbershops being used as fronts for money Mercia Police said it executed 33 warrants in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire last was working in conjunction with Trading Standards, the immigration service, and HMRC."Whilst these businesses appeared legitimate, they were actually tools for criminals to hide illegal cash flow," said Det Insp Dan Fenn from the force's Economic Crime Unit (ECU). The action was taken as part of Operation Machinize, which targeted criminal gangs using barbershops as fronts for fraud, money laundering, and the sale of illicit seized more than £500,000 in illegal funds and £16,000 in cash.A total of seven people were arrested by police and immigration officers. "Organised crime groups are opportunistic and exploit legitimate businesses, such as barbershops, to hide their illegal cash flow," said Det Insp Fenn. "The high cash turnover of these businesses makes them ideal for disguising illicit activities."Our work during Operation Machinize sends a clear message to these crime networks: we will not tolerate criminal activity in our communities."He added that the ECU had seized more than £6m in criminal assets since April 2024. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
27-03-2025
- BBC News
Boy who died in Shropshire crash had heart of gold
A 17-year-old boy who died after a crash in Shropshire was a "polite, kind-hearted and confident young man" who had a heart of gold, his family have Bridges, from Brewood, Staffordshire, died in hospital two days after an Audi A1 crashed on Offoxey Road in Tong, near Shifnal, on 14 others – Simon Evans, 18, and Jacob Holman, 17, also died in the collision, while another boy, 17, suffered life-changing a tribute, Jenson's family described him as a "homeboy" who loved his family, particularly his younger brother and sister who "looked up to him". "He really had a heart of gold and everyone who knew Jenson would say how incredible he was. He was a polite, kind-hearted and confident young man," they said."We are so proud of Jenson and his achievements, one of them being the first mixed-race pupil at his school to be named head boy. He was just amazing." 'He was an angel' They said he had a love for many things, including caravan holidays, travelling to Cyprus and being out with his was also a "huge" Manchester United fan and had a passion for Formula 1, boxing and go karting, the family said."Jenson is a much-loved son, brother, grandson, nephew and friend. He really was an angel whose passing has left a huge hole in our family and community, and he will be missed by everyone who knew him," they Mercia Police has repeated an appeal for information about the collision and urged anyone with information or dashcam footage to get in touch. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
