Nearly a Third of Stop-and-Searches Yield Illegal Items in West Midlands
Police step up stop-and-searches and community engagement as Sceptre Week ends
West Midlands Police have concluded this year’s Sceptre Week, the national knife crime intensification led by the Home Office, highlighting ongoing efforts to tackle knife-enabled youth violence across the region.
Inspector Colin Gallier, who manages the Guardian Task Force teams, said that so far in 2025, officers have recovered 53 knives from stop-and-searches and made 270 arrests. “Almost a third of our stop-and-searches are resulting in the seizure of unlawful items” Gallier said. The figures show a slight increase in both searches and seizures compared with the same period last year.
Despite high-profile incidents, the overall trend in knife-enabled youth crime continues to decline. Last year, serious youth violence involving knives fell by 18%, a reduction that has been maintained year to date in 2025. “Any knife crime incident is one too many,” Gallier said, “but the data shows that our ongoing efforts are having an effect.”
Sceptre Week brought additional focus to a range of policing and community initiatives. Officers visited schools to deliver awareness sessions for young people about the dangers of carrying knives, conducted test-purchase operations with retailers, and patrolled hotspot areas where knife-enabled violence is most likely. “It’s a holistic approach” Gallier said. “Education, awareness, engagement, and enforcement all play a role in tackling knife crime.”
Accessibility to knives remains a challenge. “Knives are easily available, whether through households, retailers, or online platforms” Gallier explained. He added that officers are increasingly focusing on detecting knife sales via social media and other online outlets, both from official retailers and so-called grey market sellers.
Hotspot policing continues to be central to the strategy. Teams are deployed to areas identified through data analysis as having higher levels of knife-related incidents. Officers engage directly with individuals and groups in these locations, using stop-and-search powers proportionately to recover knives and other illegal items.
Gallier also acknowledged public concern following tragic incidents. “We understand why people feel uncertain or unsafe in busy areas” he said. “Our town centres, including Birmingham, have regular heavily policed patrols to reassure the public. We want people to enjoy these spaces safely.”
With the festive season approaching, West Midlands Police are planning an enhanced visible presence in city and town centres. This includes collaboration with partners such as Business Improvement District security to maintain public confidence during busy periods.
Reflecting on the ongoing reduction in knife crime, Gallier said it is the result of a combination of preventative work, engagement with young people, and targeted enforcement. “Sceptre Week enhances these efforts with a specific focus on knife crime, but our work continues throughout the year” he said.