West Midlands Police have charged a woman following an incident on a bus near Merry Hill Shopping Centre in which a large sword was allegedly seen and children were threatened. Lisa North, aged 43, of Dudley, is set to appear before Dudley Magistrates' Court on 17 September after being charged with possession of a bladed article in a public place.
Incident Details and Swift Police Response
Officers were called to Nottingham Way in Quarry Bank shortly before 9.15pm on Tuesday 4 August following reports of people in possession of a large blade. The force's Dudley Response officers arrived at the scene and made two arrests within 10 minutes of receiving the call.
North, whose address was given as Raven Court, Hill Street, Brierley Hill, was arrested at the scene and subsequently bailed pending her court appearance. No injuries were reported during the incident.
Second Arrest and Additional Charges
A 37-year-old man was also arrested in connection with the same incident. He faces suspicion of possession of a bladed article, assault of an emergency worker, criminal damage, and possession of Class B drugs. The man has been bailed while enquiries continue.
West Midlands Police have confirmed that the man remains on bail as investigations proceed. The force has not released further details about the nature of the assault or the criminal damage alleged.
Police Statement and Appeal for Information
In a statement, West Midlands Police said: "A woman has been charged after we responded to reports that a sword had been seen and children threatened on a bus. Officers were called to Nottingham Way, Quarry Bank, shortly before 9.15pm last night (4 Aug) to reports of people in possession of a large sword."
The statement continued: "Following a swift response by Dudley Response officers two arrests were made within 10 minutes. Lisa North, aged 43, of Dudley, has now been charged with possession of a bladed article in a public place. She has been bailed to appear at Dudley Magistrates' Court on 17 September."
Community Impact and Ongoing Investigation
The incident has raised concerns among local residents in the Quarry Bank area, particularly given the reported threat to children on the bus. West Midlands Police are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
Authorities have asked witnesses or anyone with relevant information to contact them on 101 or use the Live Chat option on their website, quoting crime number 20/351377/26. The investigation remains ongoing, and police have not ruled out further arrests.
This incident highlights the ongoing work of West Midlands Police in tackling knife crime and ensuring public safety across the region. The swift response by officers led to arrests within minutes, demonstrating the force's commitment to addressing such incidents promptly.
