Weapon crime epidemic: Handguns, bats and machetes used to carry out violent attacks on Black Country streets every day
People carrying weapons ranging from baseball bats to machetes and handguns are carrying out violent attacks on the streets of the Black Country every day, new figures have revealed.
New data released in a Freedom of Information act shows that West Midlands Police have been informed of 2,954 incidents of violence in a public place where a weapon was either used or being carried since 2011.
The figures work out at roughly one incident a day between 2011 and 2015.
Sandwell has the highest rate of reports of local areas with 871, followed by Wolverhampton with 800, Walsall with 669 and Dudley with 615.
The weapons either used or discovered as a result of attacks covers knuckle duster's, CS gas, kitchen knives, handguns, shotguns, meat cleaver's, axes and explosives.
Some of the more obscure weapons include vehicles, dogs and bricks.
West Midlands Police Chief Constable Dave Thompson said: "We are committed to tackling violence in our communities, not just when it becomes a critical issue, but where the potential for harm is identified.
"We cannot do this alone.
"The West Midlands Violence Prevention Alliance underlines our commitment to working in partnership with other agencies to keep our communities safe and prevent them from harm."
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said work is being done through the West Midlands Violence Protection Alliance to tackle the problem and also pointed towards work to eradicate the sale of 'zombie knives' as a step taken towards decreasing the use of weapons.
He said: "Intervention is vital in preventing violence.
"The West Midlands Violence Prevention Alliance goes to show how serious we are about keeping our communities safe.
"It is a group of organisations that intervenes at root causes and works to reduce violent offending in the region.
"Similar schemes in Scotland and Wales have reduced violence by as much as 40 per cent and West Midlands Police was the first force in England to introduce such a measure.
"West Midlands Police and myself are working around the clock to rid our streets of weapons.
"My office has supported the introduction of 13 knife surrender bins around the region and I am currently working to ban the sale of zombie knives – an issue first brought to light by the Express & Star – and the Home Office has now agreed to a meeting on the issue.
"I am also delivering on my promise to complete the recruitment of 450 new police officers, whose energy and enthusiasm will help in the fight against weapons and violence on our streets.
"I am also hoping to increase that number further in the near future."
