Force to expand knife crime and youth violence unit

More than 450 weapons have been seized and nearly 800 arrests were made in the past year, West Mercia Police said

West Midlands Police is to expand a specialist knife crime and youth violence unit by creating a new team in the Black Country.

Four teams currently operate as part of Project Guardian Taskforce, funded by the Home Office, but the force said it was paying for a fifth to be set up from this month.

Additional officers have been brought in to now cover Dudley and Sandwell and Walsall and Wolverhampton, alongside two teams who cover Birmingham and also Coventry and Solihull.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Drover said the taskforce was making a difference with more than 450 weapons seized and nearly 800 arrests made in the past year.

Last year, the West Midlands Police area had the highest rate of knife crime offences in England and Wales, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

However, figures released by the force last month showed a 6% fall in all crime across the West Midlands, a 16% drop in knife crime and 13% decrease in serious youth violence.

The taskforce - now made up of a total of 50 officers - carries out plain-clothed operations, as well as high-visibility patrols, and act on information and monitor hotspot areas, the force said.

It also works with with partners through the Violence Reduction Partnership to try to divert young people away from crime.

"The taskforce makes a real difference in helping to reduce knife crime and serious youth violence," ACC Drover said.

"This investment by the force means we can further increase the impact the taskforce makes and help to keep our communities safe.

"Tragically, we've all seen the consequences of someone being armed with a weapon on the streets."