West Mercia

The Gun Control Network said allowing children to use powerful weapons, such as shotguns, is “absurd” and warned that weapon security cannot be guaranteed with youngsters. But the British Association of Shooting and Conservation says teaching children how to enjoy the benefits of responsible shooting is to be encouraged. At the end of March, 146 […] […]

Wayne Couzens has reportedly stopped eating in jail and is being watched around the clock after “plunging into depression” over his crimes, it has been reported. The former Metropolitan Police officer, 48, pleaded guilty to the murder and rape of marketing executive Sarah Everard this month. He is currently in Belmarsh prison but is barely […] […]

The police constable fired for gross misconduct was based in Shrewsbury and sent provocative messages to three female colleagues after giving them a training presentation, it can now be revealed. The most serious allegation James Walters faced was that he exposed himself to “PC A” and tried to push her head into his lap while […] […]

Pc James Walters, who had been based in the operation patrol unit serving the north of the force’s area, had 10 allegations upheld against him. These included accusations he breached three standards of professional behaviour, including areas of authority, respect and courtesy; equality and diversity; and discreditable conduct. On Friday , a gross misconduct panel […] […]

A West Mercia Police officer who harassed a woman and sent a riot van to her home after she ended their affair has pleaded guilty to stalking. Stephen Green, 60, began stalking the woman last year after their affair ended. The Shrewsbury-based officer, who was married with children, embarked on a four-year affair with the […] […]

The serving West Mercia constable – who cannot be identified because of an order imposed by the Police Misconduct Panel – was giving “PC A” a lift from the headquarters to their mutual base station in a force pool car at the time of the incident. The Professional Standards Department alleges the male officer exposed […] […]

The police officer who abducted, raped and murdered Sarah Everard could spend the rest of his life in prison, it emerged today, as a second opportunity for him to have been stopped earlier was revealed. PC Wayne Couzens, 48, will be sentenced next month after pleading guilty to murder today and Lord Justice Fulford told […] […]

A police constable allegedly exposed himself to a female colleague and tried to force her head into his lap while they were sitting in a parked car together, a misconduct panel has heard. The serving West Mercia officer, who cannot be named because of an order imposed by the Police Misconduct Panel, is also accused […] […]

A leading Telford councillor has called on the Home Secretary to introduce more rigorous police recruitment procedures after a West Mercia Police constable was jailed for killing football star Dalian Atkinson. Telford & Wrekin’s Councillor Kuldip Sahota, a recent candidate in the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner elections, described Pc Benjamin Monk as a […] […]

A West Mercia Police constable accused of assaulting the football star Dalian Atkinson in Telford will face a retrial. Mr Atkinson died on August 15, 2016 following after officers, including 31-year-old Pc Ellen Bettley-Smith, were called to Meadow Close, Trench. A jury previously failed to reach a verdict at a recent trial, and now the […] […]

Experienced police officer Pc Benjamin Monk said he could not remember several aspects of the night Dalian Atkinson died, including resting his boot on the former sportsman’s head as he lay on the ground. The 43-year-old, aged 38 at the time of Mr Atkinson’s death in August 2016, told Birmingham Crown Court he was 6ft […] […]