Over 60 people arrested in West Midlands as police tackle knife crime
The Guardian Taskforce has made significant progress in reducing youth violence and knife crime
West Midlands Police's Guardian Taskforce has made over 60 arrests and seized dozens of weapons in an ongoing effort to combat knife crime and youth violence.
In April, the operation resulted in 62 arrests, with 257 stop searches conducted that led to the seizing of 46 weapons, including knives.
The taskforce carried out extensive patrols throughout Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, and Wolverhampton.
The team made 24 arrests in Birmingham and 12 across Coventry and Solihull for various offences.
Meanwhile, in the western side, there were 26 arrests.
Inspector Colin Gallier, from the Guardian Taskforce, said: "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.”
The Guardian Taskforce collaborates through the Violence Reduction Partnership to steer young people away from crime.
Officers regularly visit schools, delivering educational inputs and partnering with schools-based officers to provide young people with the support needed to deter them from violent or criminal behavior.
The team employ a variety of tactics including plain-clothed operations, high visibility patrols, and positive engagement with young people.
In the coming week, community members can expect to see more officers on the ground performing weapon sweeps, school visits, and executing warrants to remove weapons from the streets and bring offenders to justice.
Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity by calling 101 or contacting Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111 for anonymous reporting. In emergencies, the public should always call 999.