West Midlands Police investigating Sandwell councillors

Sandwell Council has referred a damning report into the conduct of some of its councillors to West Midlands Police's Regional Organised Crime Unit.

UKIP councillors have been pushing for investigations into dodgy dealings at Sandwell for some time. The Deputy Leader of the council and cabinet member for regeneration resigned in 2015 over allegations of wrongdoing relating to the sale of council property. The Deputy Leader failed to declare a financial interest in a company that got a large council contract, sold a council-owned property to his son on the cheap and then allegations of vote rigging were made.

Allegations of conspiracy to defraud and misconduct in public office are being investigated by the police.

Oh, the irony ...

Five terrorist suspects arrested in Birmingham and Stoke

Five men have been arrested by mental health police in Birmingham and Stoke on suspicion of commissioning, preparing or instigating terrorist attacks.

Following the arrests, army bomb disposal experts were sent to a Birmingham hotel near the Bullring shopping centre. The Pentahill hotel was visited by one of the terrorists that was involved in an attack on Paris last year.

The arrests were part of a joint operation between MI5 and West Midlands Police.