Community group joins Walsall police to tackle knife crime
Weapons surrender van brings together local organisations to reduce knife crime
A community group working to tackle knife crime has teamed up with police officers in Walsall, leading to a successful operation that saw a machete and four knives taken off the streets.
London-based FazAmnesty partnered with PC Leigh Thompson-Clarke, the Under 25’s Serious Violence Co-Ordinator for Walsall Police, for the initiative on Saturday 6th December.
FazAmnesty’s mission focuses on supporting vulnerable individuals and reducing crime in neighbourhoods through mentoring programmes, street patrols, and weapon collection initiatives.
H2 Working together to protect communities
The group's representatives, along with members of the James Brindley Foundation and Youth Connect, began the day with a guided tour of Palfrey and Caldmore. During this time, they engaged with local people and successfully collected three weapons.
Later in the day, they moved to Wednesbury Road in Pleck, visiting local businesses and residents alongside Youth Connect, which resulted in the recovery of two additional weapons.
H2 Positive results for a safer community
PC Leigh Thompson-Clarke said, “In total, four machetes and a knife were recovered and taken out of circulation, preventing them from falling into the hands of people who wish to cause harm in the community.
“This is potentially five lives saved and five families spared the devastating effects of knife crime. The weapons were handed over to officers at Bloxwich Police station at the end of the day to be destroyed."
PC Thompson-Clarke highlighted the importance of collaboration: “The visit was a great example of partnership working, and I would like to thank representatives from FazAmnesty, The James Brindley Foundation and Youth Connect for coming along and supporting our efforts to combat knife crime in our communities.”