Police seize more than 350 weapons in crackdown across Coventry and West Midlands

Weapons have been seized across the West Midlands
-Credit: (Image: SWNS)


Police have this year made more than 500 arrests and seized over 350 weapons across the West Midlands. Officers from the Project Guardian Taskforce are working to tackle knife crime and youth violence in Coventry, Birmingham and the Black Country.

It comes as new legislation bans people from carrying 'zombie-style' knives in the UK. Criminals have been warned that it is illegal to own these types of knives and machetes, which, as of Tuesday, September 24, have been added to the list of prohibited items already banned.

A month-long knife surrender ended earlier this week, with hundreds of knives handed into West Midlands Police. Individuals can still anonymously dispose of weapons using surrender bins, which can be found across the region, including at Coventry Central Police Station on Little Park Street.

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Inspector Colin Gallier, from Project Guardian, said: “We have seen the tragic consequences of someone carrying a knife, gun, or other weapon too many times, and it can have a devastating and life-changing impact on so many people. We have dedicated teams working day in, day out, to keep taking weapons off the streets.”

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “Our Project Guardian teams operate across Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry and Solihull, and they made the recoveries and arrests between January and August. It will continue throughout the rest of the year and beyond as we continue our work to reduce violence and knife crime in under-25-year-olds.

“We use a range of tactics, from plain-clothed operations to high-visibility patrols, and the arrests have ranged from possessing a weapon, having drugs, or being involved in other criminal activity. Along with enforcement, we also look to engage with and educate young people about the life-changing impact of violence and knife crime.”

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