18 arrests made in Tipton amid police crackdown on drugs and knife violence among youths
The West Midlands Police Guardian Taskforce team has confirmed 18 arrests were made in Tipton last month in a crackdown on youth crime.
In June the team worked across Birmingham, Tipton and Coventry, with 77 deployments totalling more than 3,000 hours of patrols, during which 366 stop-and-searches were carried out.
Those searches led to 57 knives or offensive weapons being seized, and a total of 77 arrests across the three areas for a variety of offences including possession with intent to supply, possession of an offensive weapon, and possession of class B drugs.
The Guardian Taskforce made 77 arrests in June
Inspector Kate Jeffries from the West Midlands Police Guardian Taskforce said: "Our teams work incredibly hard to take knives, and offensive weapons, off the streets.
“Every knife seized is a life saved. We use a mixture of plain-clothes operations and high-visibility patrols to help keep our communities safe.
“Along with enforcement, my officers take time to educate young people around the life-changing impact of knife crime and serious youth violence. We are committed to taking action against those who would carry a knife.
“Thank you to everyone who provides the police with information about drug dealing, knife carrying, and suspected gang activity. Your reports and information help us focus our patrols and identify those who want to cause harm to others.”
Operation Guardian is a specialist taskforce which tackles knife crime and youth violence, with a particular emphasis on reducing knife crime in under 25-year-olds.
