West Midlands Police recorded 278 incidents of possessing a blade or sharply pointed article on school or further education premises in Birmingham over the five-year period from January 2022 to June 2026, according to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
Year-by-Year Breakdown of Incidents
The FOI data reveals a fluctuating trend in knife possession reports. In 2022, there were 64 reports; 2023 saw 59; 2024 had 55; 2025 peaked at 70; and the first half of 2026 (January to June) recorded 30 reports. These figures highlight a persistent issue, with an average of approximately 55 incidents per year.
Additionally, the data shows 85 reports of threatening a person with a blade or sharply pointed article on further education premises during the same period. The annual breakdown for these threats is: 2022 (20), 2023 (20), 2024 (14), 2025 (14), and 2026 (17).
Context and Interpretation of the Data
BirminghamLive understands that when a location description references a school, it does not always mean the offence occurred inside the school building. The marker may have been used to relate to the nearest identifiable landmark for recording purposes. For instance, one record might involve the seizure of multiple weapons, potentially skewing the count.
Police Response and Prevention Efforts
A spokesperson for West Midlands Police stated: “We know how destructive and cruel knife crime is and the impact it can have on many lives - from victims, offenders to families. It can ruin lives forever and we carry out regular enforcement to identify and prosecute those who carry and use weapons.”
They added: “We work with partners - as part of the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership - to prevent offences happening in the first place. Reducing serious youth violence is a priority for us with programmes and activities to deter and divert young people from criminal and anti-social behaviour.”
School Intervention and Support Initiatives
The force highlighted its schools intervention officers, who are embedded in neighbourhood policing teams and are present in schools daily. These officers provide inputs, collaborate with teachers, and offer additional support to at-risk youth. Early help officers are linked to family hubs, and young persons officers work with partners across communities.
West Midlands Police also runs Project Guardian, which provides additional capabilities to respond to key areas and prevent violence through regular unannounced patrols. Additionally, services are commissioned across voluntary, charity, and community organisations, including lived experience mentoring in schools and colleges.
