West Midlands Police have reported a significant success in their ongoing fight against knife crime and youth violence, with nearly 50 weapons seized and over 60 arrests made in April. The Guardian Taskforce teams conducted patrols across Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, and Wolverhampton, resulting in 62 arrests and 257 stop-and-searches, which led to the confiscation of 46 weapons, including knives.
Arrests by Area
The highest number of arrests occurred in Birmingham, with 24 individuals taken into custody. Coventry and Solihull saw 12 arrests for a variety of offences, while the Black Country area accounted for a total of 26 arrests. These figures come ahead of a nationwide intensive week of action starting Monday, May 18, where police forces across England and Wales will intensify efforts to remove knives from the streets.
Police Statement
A West Midlands Police spokesperson commented: “Guardian Taskforce has continued its momentum of tackling drugs, weapons, and serious youth violence, and the results show the team is making more and more arrests each month.”
Inspector Colin Gallier from the Guardian Taskforce added: “Our teams continue to work incredibly hard to take knives and weapons off the streets. Every knife seized is potentially a life saved. And these knives are the reason why we need to continue to carry out stop and searches. We work alongside other teams in local policing areas to take action and also warn against the risks of carrying a weapon. This remains ongoing as we continue our work to reduce incidents.”
Prevention and Education
The force spokesperson further explained: “We work with partners through the Violence Reduction Partnership to divert young people away from crime. We have officers who are regularly in schools delivering inputs and working alongside our schools-based officers to educate young people and offering support to deter youngsters from violent or criminal behaviour.” Project Guardian is a specialist taskforce that tackles knife crime and youth violence, employing a range of tactics from plain-clothed operations to high visibility patrols and positive engagement with young people.
Week of Action
During the week of intensified action, known as Sceptre, all 43 police forces across England and Wales will coordinate activities targeting knife crime from its root causes to enforcement. The police spokesperson urged the public: “If you see something suspicious in your area, get in touch with us by calling 101 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to stay anonymous. In an emergency, always call 999.”
