The latest news, updates and events in Birmingham
Police in the West Midlands have defended a decision to fine campaigners attending a memorial to the Birmingham pub bombings for breaching coronavirus restrictions. Six people were issued with fixed penalty notices after attending the event last November, including Julie Hambleton, whose sister Maxine was killed in the 1974 attack.
As the nation’s third lockdown in less than a year is underway, police forces across the country have received revised government’s regulations to enforce COVID-19 safety restrictions on the public, with maximum fines of up to £6,400 per person. Although there has been confusion at times during the previous two lockdowns as to who can be out and about, as…
West Midlands Police officers broke up an illegal ‘lock in’ at a football club in Walsall over the weekend. After receiving several reports since April about Walsall Wood football club secretly opening and not complying with COVID-19 restrictions, police finally took matters into their own hands.
West Midlands Police have confirmed that over 100 lockdown violation fines were issued after officers broke up an illegal rave despite being pelted with missiles by the hostile crowd. Police constables acted on information and discovered an unlawful music event being held in a disused warehouse in Birmingham last night (28 November) despite a COVID-19…
A Solihull hotel manager has been handed a £10,000 fine after breaching COVID-19 regulations by hosting a funeral party with hundreds of attendees. As well as the fine, the Castle Bromwich Hall Hotel in Solihull has been banned from holding events until January next year following the funeral gathering last Friday (September 25) which was attended…
Businesses could be subject to new fines of £10,000 if they fail to adhere to new guidance surrounding measures such as curfews and face coverings announced by the Government yesterday (September 22). In a briefing to ministers, Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed the latest guidance to curb the increase of COVID-19 cases and prevent the…
Social gatherings of more than six people will be illegal in England from Monday in response to a sharp rise in coronavirus cases across the country. Currently, the lawful limit on gatherings is 30 people but a new legal limit will ban larger groups meeting anywhere indoors or outdoors for social purposes, according to Downing Street. From Monday,…
West Midlands Police have said it will crackdown on members of public breaking strict ‘lockdown‘ restrictions introduced by the government around social distancing – but only as a last resort. The force’s chief constable Dave Thompson said the restrictions imposed as a response to the coronavirus outbreak were largely a matter of personal responsibility, and police officers would…
Tough new penalties are being enforced for the misuse of lasers, including fines and prison sentences, following incidents which could have caused serious harm to aircraft arriving and departing at Birmingham Airport. There were 73 laser incidents at Birmingham airport reported to the CAA in 2016 and the new laws aim to reduce these.