Extra officers tackling knife crime and serious youth violence across West Midlands

West Midlands Police said it had expanded its Project Guardian Taskforce to have five teams, rather than four, operating across the region.

The force said it had done this to build on the successes of the teams who, last month alone, made more than 70 arrests and seized almost 70 weapons.

The impact of the taskforce was recently recognised by the Policing Minister who highlighted the role of Project Guardian, and the work of WMP in reducing knife-related crime.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We will now have 50 officers dedicated to the taskforce and the focus remains on preventing violence and taking weapons off the streets.

"There are two dedicated teams for the Black Country, one covering Dudley and Sandwell and one for Walsall and Wolverhampton. 

"This combines with the existing two teams in Birmingham and other for Coventry and Solihull.

"Officers on Project Guardian adopt a range of tactics from plain-clothed operations to high visibility patrols. They look to act on information and monitor hotspot areas.

"The work of the taskforce is having an impact. The teams recover hundreds of weapons and make hundreds of arrests every year.

"Recent crime figures revealed knife crime has reduced by 16 per cent and serious youth violence has fallen by more than 13 per cent in the region.

"At WMP we’re involved in enforcement and education to deter young people from carrying weapons as we know the life-changing impact they can have.

"We work with partners through the Violence Reduction Partnership to divert young people away from crime. 

"We also have officers who are in schools daily, offering support to deter youngsters from violent or criminal behaviour.

"This is a real partnership approach and not something which policing can do alone. Everyone including teachers, parents and carers all have a part to play."