West Midlands Police’s Guardian Taskforce has made over 60 arrests and seized 28 weapons, including knives, as part of an ongoing crackdown on knife crime and youth violence across the region. In March, officers conducted patrols in Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, and Wolverhampton.
Arrests and Seizures
A total of 61 arrests were made during the month. Officers carried out 421 stop-and-searches, leading to the seizure of 28 weapons, many of which were knives. In Birmingham, 20 arrests were made, while teams in Coventry and Solihull accounted for 19 arrests. The western side of the force area saw 22 arrests.
Inspector’s Statement
Inspector Colin Gallier from the Guardian Taskforce emphasised the importance of the operation: "Our teams continue to work incredibly hard to take knives and weapons off the streets. Every knife seized is potentially a life saved. These knives are the reason why we need to continue to carry out stop-and-searches." He added that the taskforce works alongside local policing teams to take action and warn against the risks of carrying weapons.
Prevention and Education
The taskforce collaborates with partners through the Violence Reduction Partnership to divert young people away from crime. Officers regularly visit schools to educate young people and offer support to deter them from violent or criminal behaviour.
Project Guardian
Project Guardian is a specialist taskforce targeting knife crime and youth violence. It uses a range of tactics, from plain-clothed operations to high-visibility patrols and positive engagement with young people, with a particular emphasis on reducing knife crime.
Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity by calling 101 or contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
