Major UK police force increasing special unit to tackle knife crisis | UK | News
One of Britain’s largest police forces is expanding a unit specializing in knife crime and youth violence. West Midlands Police has announced that an additional team will be deployed in the Black Country as part of the Project Guardian Task Force.
Deputy Chief Constable Paul Drover said the taskforce had made a “real difference”. He said: “In the last 12 months alone teams have logged an average of 30,000 hours on patrol, seizing more than 450 weapons and detaining nearly 800 people. “This investment by the force means we can further increase the impact the taskforce is making and help keep our communities safe.
“Tragically, we have all seen the consequences of someone being armed with a gun on the streets.”
Knife crime in the area is down 16% and serious violence against young people is down more than 13%, according to figures released by the force last month.
Last year data from the Office for National Statistics showed that the West Midlands Police area had the highest rate of knife crime in England and Wales.
With the expansion of the Project Guardian Task Force, it will now consist of five teams of 50 officers instead of four.
The latest will be created this month and will be funded by West Midlands Police; the current four were funded by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The team will be the second team based in the Black Country; one focuses on Dudley and Sandwell, the other on Walsall and Wolverhampton.
Two teams currently cover Birmingham, with another for Coventry and Solihull.
Officers who are part of Project Guardian adopt a variety of tactics, from plainclothes operations to high-visibility patrols.
According to West Midlands Police, teams plan to take action on information and also monitor hotspot areas.
The force added that officers are present in schools on a daily basis to deter young people from carrying weapons or engaging in criminal behaviour.
The latest figures from West Midlands Police show crime has fallen by 6% across the region.
