Birmingham has witnessed a series of dramatic police incidents throughout 2025, with shocking body-worn camera footage released to the public. The videos capture a wide range of criminal activity, from a major firearms smuggling operation to violent public disorder and dangerous driving.
Major Crime Arrests and Public Disorder
One of the most significant operations involved the arrest of Yasir Khan, 40, from Sparkhill. Armed officers from the National Crime Agency intercepted Khan as he drove in the Jewellery Quarter. He later admitted attempting to smuggle 72 firearm parts into the UK from Pakistan, hidden inside a 1976 Datsun Sunny car. The parts, which included slides and barrels for 9mm Glock pistols, were discovered at London Gateway Port in July 2024. Khan was sentenced to eight years in prison at Birmingham Crown Court in March 2025.
Around Bonfire Night, West Midlands Police dealt with serious disorder in the city centre. Fireworks were deliberately aimed at officers and members of the public in the Dale End and Staniforth Street areas. Police implemented a Section 60 order, leading to 21 arrests, including children as young as 14, and the seizure of weapons and fireworks.
Dawn Raids and Street Crime Crackdowns
In a pre-dawn raid in Edgbaston during April, police used an electric chainsaw to gain entry to a property. The operation, part of Operation Fearless, targeted county line drug networks. Bodycam footage shows officers swiftly cutting through the front door to make an arrest.
Officers also conducted a sustained crackdown on illegally modified e-bikes in the city centre. Footage shows riders being intercepted near New Street and Victoria Square, with one delivery rider attempting to swerve past an officer outside Wagamama. Another rider was detained outside Primark after being pulled from his bike.
Knife crime was a key focus, with footage released of officers chasing and detaining suspects. One arrest was made outside the Genting Casino on Thorp Street, while another suspect fled from near the Holiday Inn on Smallbrook Queensway, running across traffic before being caught near the former Snobs venue.
Dangerous Driving and Fatal Consequences
A 22-year-old learner driver from Birmingham, high on cannabis and driving on a provisional licence without insurance, led police on a chase reaching speeds of 110mph. The pursuit, which started on the A46 near Stratford-upon-Avon, saw the driver race through red lights before being stopped in Shirley, Solihull, using a stinger device. He was later banned from driving.
In a separate case with tragic outcomes, a heavily modified Nissan Skyline used in a fatal street race was crushed by police. The car, driven by Dhiya Al-Maamoury, 56, struck and killed two teenagers—Ben Corfield, 19, and Liberty Charris, 16—in Oldbury in November 2022. Two other teens were seriously injured. Al-Maamoury was jailed for 13-and-a-half years after pleading guilty, and grieving relatives watched as the vehicle was destroyed.
This collection of footage from West Midlands Police highlights the diverse and often dangerous challenges faced by officers on the streets of Birmingham throughout the year.
