Updated 8:40pm 11 February 2012:

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Mark Cowan

Mark Cowan

CrimeFiles Prison Break Special: The Great Train Robbery

AS the manhunt continued to track down “dangerous” John Anslow, who was sprung from a prison van days after being charged with murder, Birmingham Mail Crime Correspondent Mark Cowan looks back at some other daring prison breaks. Here we open the files on Great Train Robber Charlie Wilson.Read

Crimestoppers offer £10,000 reward in hunt for killer of Betty Yates

A BOUNTY of £10,000 has been put on the head of the “cowardly” killer of former Birmingham teacher Betty Yates.Read

Man charged with causing death of promising footballer Callum Henry, aged 10, in Castle Vale road collision

A DRIVER has been charged with causing the death of a popular young boy who suffered a fatal heart attack after being knocked off his bike.Read

Cannabis factory found in Ashcroft Road Ladywood

POLICE found hundreds of cannabis plants growing in a house in Birmingham.Read

John Anslow

Worcestershire jailbreak update: Ports and airports put on alert as John Anslow remains on the run

John Anslow, who is accused of the shotgun murder of Midland dad-of-two Richard Deakin was on the run tonight after being busted out of a prison van in an armed break-out. Read

Cash-strapped West Midlands and Staffordshire police forces consider merging firearms units

CASH-strapped police forces in the Midlands are exploring the possibility of merging firearms units to help cut costs and protect frontline policing.Read

Man accused of Richard Deakin murder busted out of prison van in gang ambush

A “DANGEROUS” man accused of the shotgun murder of Midland dad-of-two Richard Deakin has been busted out of a prison van in a gang ambush. Read

Billesley teenage yobs handed ASBOs after claims of assault, threats and intimidation

A YOUNG yob has been banned from a Birmingham suburb for a SECOND time as part of a new blitz on street louts. Read

West Midlands Police see robberies rise but total crime fall, latest crime figures show

A TEN per cent rise in burglaries in the West Midlands helped drive a national increase in the offence, new figures have revealed.Read

Pictures: West Midlands Police issue more CCTV images as hunt to identify looters involved in last August's Birmingham riots continues

ARMS full of booze and clothes, these suspected looters probably thought they had got away with plundering shops during the summer riots.Read

Birmingham double murder: Handsworth Wood couple Avtar and Carole Kolar were battered to death with lump hammer

A BIRMINGHAM couple found dead in their home were battered to death with a lump hammer, police revealed today.Read

West Midlands Police smash cannabis factory hidden inside Harborne semi

COPS are on a high after seizing a whopping £18 million in cannabis from hundreds of drugs farms in just one year.Read

Two men stabbed after 'row' at LA Fitness gym in Erdington

TWO men were knifed when a row exploded into violence in the steam room at a Birmingham gym, it was claimed last night.Read

Birmingham double murder: West Midlands Police rule out gold robbery as a motive for the death of Handsworth Wood couple Avtar and Carole Kolar

DETECTIVES probing the double murders of a Birmingham couple found dead by their policeman son have ruled out gold robbery as a motive.Read

Birmingham Steelhouse Lane police station could close as force cuts costs

A LANDMARK Birmingham police station that has been in operation for 120 years could be ditched under a £126 million cost-cutting drive.Read

Twitter criticised by Birmingham expert over paedophile use

A LEADING Birmingham criminologist has criticised social networking site Twitter amid concerns some paedophiles were using it to discuss abuse and link to sickening sexual images of children.Read

Birmingham murder update: Family make distraught appeal for help to catch killers of Avtar Kolar and his wife Carole

DETECTIVES were last night probing whether a botched burglary was behind the double murders of a popular Birmingham couple.Read

Birmingham double murder update: Detectives vow to catch killers

A MARRIED couple found murdered in their Birmingham home were the victim of a “horrendous” assault, the police officer in charge of the hunt for their killers said.Read

Birmingham Riots: West Midlands Police awarded more than £11m in Government grant to cover the costs of the riots

POLICE chiefs in the West Midlands are to be handed an £11 million Government grant towards the costs of policing the riots last August.Read

Company insists Birmingham CCTV cameras are still working but welcome possibility on new investment to get them fully operational

THE firm behind a CCTV scheme which has not worked properly for almost two years has backed moves to win cash to have the system restored.Read

Author Profile

Mark Cowan is crime reporter for the Birmingham Mail.