Recent Achievements

Mohammed Shabir, aged 40, was arrested as part of one of several conspiracies to supply Class A drugs in Worcester. He evaded arrest for six months, was arrested in possession a large quantity of large calibre ammunition and a hand gun and further drugs. The CCU collaborated with the West Mercia Serious Organised Crime Unit providing advice prior to arrest and whilst in custody that enabled evidential issues in respect of the drug conspiracy and subsequent drug and firearm offences to be addressed successfully and quickly. HHJ Thomas found on the facts as argued by the Prosecution that Shabir had a significant role in the conspiracy reserved the case to himself for sentence 17 January 2013 at Birmingham Crown Court. Subsequently investigation into the hand gun and ammunition suggests that Shabir was in possession of home manufactured ammunition which is linked to several ongoing West Midlands Police investigations. The quick turnaround of this case to sentence was due in no small part to the good relations between the CCU and the SOCU, the proactive approach taken by Casework Support and the CCU lawyer Jonathan Keller and the robust approach taken by Crown Advocate, Paul Whitfield at the preliminary hearing. The case was sent to Worcester Crown Court 24 November 2012. Complete trial papers were served on the Defence and Court 27 November 2012. Martin Jeffrey from our clerking team ensured that the fairly substantial papers were scanned in order to ensure the Prosecutor at the Crown Court had papers since the brief could not be dealt with by the original counsel, so ensuring an effective hearing. At the preliminary hearing on 29 November 2012, Crown Advocate, Paul Whitfield, had prepared at short notice and argued successfully for the Defendant to be arraigned. The defendant pleaded guilty to six of seven counts, the remaining count to lie on file
Sabir was sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment at Worcester Crown Court on 18 January 2013. The defendant may now be implicated in other criminal offending. Some assets have also been identified the case will be timetabled for confiscation.

Home » Complex Casework Unit

Complex Casework Unit

Jayne Salt, Head of CPS West Midlands Complex Casework

The West Midlands Complex Casework Unit (CCU) is the second largest CCU in the country after London and it houses a team of very experienced specialist lawyers who are able to advise and guide the police during complex and major investigations.

The West Midlands CCU is headed up by Jayne Salt, pictured left, and is based at  our offices in Colmore Gate, Birmingham and it handles cases from the four police forces in the region - Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Mercia and West Midlands.

The Unit comprises of three casework teams and one Proceeds of Crime Unit which each consists of lawyers, caseworkers and administration staff who work in collaboration with the police to tackle organised and serious cross border crime, and to robustly tackle and disrupt criminal enterprises in the four counties.

The bulk of the casework arises from serious and organised crime, particularly drugs importation and distribution, money laundering, organised crime group multi defendant homicide and serious fraud, usually involving a value of over £1million plus at least one element of complexity such as multiple defendants / companies / victims and/or complex financial / restraint issues.

Types of cases dealt with by the West Midlands Group Complex Casework Unit

  • substantial fraud and money laundering,
  • serious drug offences,
  • human trafficking,
  • complex or sensitive murders,
  • cross border crime,
  • historical cases,
  • assisted suicide,
  • serious sexual abuse,
  • major public disorder offences,
  • unusual aspects to the police investigation,
  • serious or complex misconduct by police officers,
  • sudden infant death,
  • major child abuse,
  • animal rights extremism,
  • major media interest cases.