Independent report: Report 16: offensive weapons homicide review, West Midlands

Birmingham City Council- Community Safety Team

Date of incident which led to the Review

The date of death has deliberately not been specified, as this may lead to the identity of the parties involved in the homicide review being inadvertently disclosed.

Review completion date (approved and signed off)

The Review start date commenced in November 2023. However, the first meeting took place in January 2024, further meetings took place throughout 2024.There were some delays in establishing contact with the victim’s family. It is unfortunate that ill health and a bereavement on a close family member of the report writer caused delays in the completion of this report.

Outline of the circumstances resulting in the Review

1. This Offensive Weapons Homicide Review was commissioned by Birmingham Community Safety Partnership in accordance with the OWHR Statutory Guidance. The death of Mr. A met the criteria for the Review are met under Section 24 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.in that at the time of his death an Offensive Weapon was used, and the victim was found deceased at a property in Birmingham, which was an exempt House in Multiple Occupation.

2. The initial scoping exercise identified that Mr. A, and Mr. B, the alleged perpetrator, were known to several agencies prior to the homicide. It identified that there was potential learning which could be beneficial to the agencies involved. It was also identified that it might be appropriate for agencies to act in respect of those lessons learned.