Reform accuses police of ‘cover up’ in Nuneaton

Dear readers — welcome to your Monday briefing. Kate is back from her two week holiday today, ready to dive into new stories from across the city — do reach out with tip offs. 

To kick things off this week, Warwickshire Police have been accused of ‘covering up’ an alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl, reportedly by two Afghan asylum seekers in Nuneaton — although the BBC has reported that it has been unable to verify this. The force allegedly told local politicians and officials not to share details of the suspect’s backgrounds for fear of “inflaming community tensions”, with the police saying they were following national guidelines and avoiding any information leaks that might interfere with future court cases. Elsewhere, we have more on the Coventry councillor who has defected from Labour to Jeremy Corbyn’s new party and a manhunt is on after an arrestee escaped police at the QE Hospital. Read on for more.

Catch up and coming up:

• Last weekend, Dan Cave headed over to the Black Country to find out more about the formation of a hyper-local left-wing political party — featuring Jeremy Corbyn, Reform and aimless lads. Read more here. 
• On Thursday, Matty Edwards got the latest from the locals who are fighting to keep Brum’s libraries (and other public assets) alive.
• Do you live in Alum Rock? Kate would like to hear from you for an upcoming article about life in the inner city suburb. Reach out at kate@birminghamdispatch.co.uk

Photo of the week

From the Instagram account dirty.brum this photo captures the edgelands of town, where soaring office buildings, once full of workers, now sit vacant and partly wild. 

Brum in Brief

🚔 Warwickshire police have been accused of a ‘cover-up’ after two men were charged over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton, The Times reports. Ahmad Mulakhil was charged with rape and Mohammad Kabir with kidnapping, strangulation and aiding and abetting a rape of the girl. In a letter to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and the chief constable of Warwickshire, Alex Franklin-Smith, published on X, George Finch, Reform leader of Warwickshire county council, alleged the suspects were asylum seekers living in houses of multiple occupancy. He complained that the police had covered-up the suspects' immigration status and he asked for all asylum seekers to be removed from the county. However, the BBC has reported today that they have been unable to independently verify the claim that the men were asylum seekers. Details of the rape were not revealed by the police until the court appearances of the defendants, although one official claimed to the Times that police had told local politicians and officials their backgrounds, but requested they did not share the information for fear of “inflaming community tensions” and disorder similar to that experienced in Epping last month. This summer has also seen protests across the UK at asylum hotels, following race riots last year. Warwickshire Police have defended their position, saying in a statement that it is normal practice to brief partners in the community with confidential information, while warning them not to share the details as they could affect future court hearings. They said: “Once someone is charged with an offence, we follow national guidance. This guidance does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status.”

🗳️ As reported on in our weekend read, a Coventry city councillor has resigned from the Labour party, expressing support for ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana’s new political party. Grace Lewis was elected councillor for Westwood in May 2024 — beating an incumbent Conservative councillor — but will now sit as an independent.  On leaving the council, Lewis said: “The Labour-led Coventry City Council has failed to stand up for working people.” Zarah Sultana added that Lewis is a ‘formidable presence’ and that “the Labour Party is dead and I would urge councillors and local leaders to ask themselves whether they’re really delivering the change that Keir Starmer promised.”

⚖️ The family of a man from Birmingham who was stabbed to death weeks after retiring to Jamaica has accused the government of being “indifferent” to the tragedy, the Guardian reports. 63-year-old Delroy Walker was murdered by a “jealous” tradesman he employed to help decorate the dream home he was building ahead of a family visit in summer 2018. Dwayne Barton, 32, was jailed for 27 years and his accomplice, Davian Edwards, 33, for 22 years this week after being found guilty of murder in a trial at St Mary circuit court in Jamaica. Walker’s brother, 59-year-old Steve Walker, said “we’ve had justice” but “it’s left an emptiness”. Walker’s family said they would request a meeting with the British Foreign Office over what they described as the “indifferent” way his murder had been treated by the high commission in Kingston. The Foreign Office said: “We have supported the family since Mr Walker’s death and remain available for consular assistance.”

🚕 A taxi driver is fighting for his life, and another man suffered life-changing injuries after a serious crash outside a mosque on Icknield Street in Soho in the early hours of Saturday. The major Birmingham road was cordoned off for several hours while the police gathered evidence and they are appealing for witnesses and information. Elsewhere, fire crews rushed to junction six on the M42 for a car fire near Birmingham Airport. It was attended to by Warwickshire Fire Service, who extinguished the blaze. 

Quick Hits

⚖️A manhunt is underway after an arrested man escaped from police at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. He is wanted on recall to prison, The Mirror reports.

🌻The University of Birmingham’s Winterbourne House and Garden has received its second consecutive TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award, placing it in top 10% of attractions worldwide. 

🕊️The Birmingham siblings who drowned on holiday in Spain have been named, according to the BBC. Paulette Hamilton MP said the Erdington area where the family is from “felt the tragic loss”.

📱Also on the BBC, an around-the-clock text message service offering mental health support for those who feel like they can’t talk in person or over the phone has been launched. 

Media picks

🧵 A Times long-read (£) has looked into the hidden nooks and crannies of the second city, finding under-reported businesses that deliver for specialist markets: from medal case makers to a popular sewing shop in Moseley. 

🚆 The BBC has detailed the long-running story of HS2, from the nugget of the idea to where the UK is now with the project, for a new podcast series. Hear ministers and engineers speak, as well as a more existential question about what it means to build in the UK. 

Our to do list

🎨 Tomorrow, take part in a free session organised by Birmingham City University and Ikon Gallery in connection with the latter’s Thread of the Loom exhibition. This one’s about using natural dyes and pigments. No booking required — just turn up.

🎺On Wednesday, the National Youth Orchestra takes concertgoers into the cosmos with their take on Star Wars theme music. Teens go free.

☪️ Artist Haseebah Ali will be in conversation with the historian Dr Neelam Hussain on Saturday, discussing a new exhibition of her work, ‘People of the Garán’, an exploration of Azad Kashmiri culture. This one’s a collaboration between the Ort and MIAH Foundation Islamic Arts & Heritage galleries.

🌿 On Sunday, head to the Herb Garden lifestyle market at Herbert’s Yard to buy unique products and delicious local street food. This one comes around on the first Sunday of every month and is free to enter.