Police in West Midlands ramp up action against knife crime in week-long operation

People across Birmingham and the West Midlands are being asked to surrender knives they 'shouldn't have' - as the local police force conducts a week of action to combat knife crime.

Throughout Operation Sceptre, West Midlands Police will be conducting activities aimed at reducing knife crime, including knife sweeps and educating young people about the dangers of carrying a knife.

Inspector Colin Gallier, from West Midlands Police, told us why it's important to take knives off the streets:

"Knife crime has been a growing concern for a period of time now, in particular, knife crime amongst the the younger age group, under 25s. Which is why West Midlands Police is committed via Project Guardian in particular to tackle that cohort, that youth violence element and the carrying of knives.

"Birmingham, for example, the second biggest city, but actually in terms of demographic and proportion, has the highest number of of young people under 25 nationally and one of the consequences to that is - with the associated serious youth violence element - we do show highly on our statistics around knife related offences.

"So for us in terms of policing and and as a partnership arrangement we want to do all we can to tackle that to reduce the risk within our community.

"Especially to that younger cohort, that demographic, and to look at all the factors that contribute to why young people are carrying knives and try to put things in place to reduce that."

Throughout Operation Sceptre, knives can be surrendered in amnesty bins across the county - or safely at your local police station.

You can find out where the surrender bins are at https://lifeorknife.west-midlands.police.uk/

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