West Midlands Police recover over 450 weapons and make 800 arrests in the last year
It's part of a knife crime crackdown to tackle youth violence in the region
Last updated 29th Oct 2025
A specialist West Midlands Police team dedicated to tackling knife crime and serious youth violence has recovered more than 450 weapons and made almost 800 arrests over the past year.
The Project Guardian Taskforce has carried out nearly 30,000 hours of active patrols across the West Midlands since October last year, leading to significant results in the fight to make communities safer.
Officers have seized a range of dangerous weapons, including 14 zombie knives, four spears, a crossbow, a machete, a taser, and PAVA spray during recent operations in Birmingham.
In Coventry, patrols led to the discovery of a machete and Class A drugs after officers stopped a car, while in Dudley this weekend, a Viking knife and a lock knife were recovered, resulting in two arrests.
Police have also been targeting the sale of weapons via social media, with three teenagers charged earlier this month in connection with the online sale of zombie knives.
Inspector Colin Gallier from Project Guardian said:
"We’re working day in day out to take weapons off the streets and keep communities safe.
“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.”
Officers are also regularly visiting schools across the West Midlands to educate young people about the dangers and long-term consequences of knife crime.