A SPECIALIST taskforce which tackles knife crime and youth violence across the region has made more than 500 arrests since the start of the year.
West Midlands Police’s Project Guardian Taskforce officers have also seized over 350 weapons while on active patrols throughout the region.
The news comes as, new legislation comes into force around zombie-style knives.
It is now illegal to own zombie-style knives and machetes after they were added to the list of dangerous prohibited items already banned, including zombie knives, butterfly knives, Samurai swords and push daggers.
West Midlands Police saw hundreds of knives handed to them following a month-long national knife surrender.
The force said residents can still anonymously dispose of weapons using safe, surrender bins located across the region including in Solihull and Coventry.
The Project Guardian teams operate across Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry and Solihull and they made the recoveries and arrests between January and August.
It said this 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.
Along with enforcement police also look to engage with, and educate, young people about the life-changing impact of violence and knife crime.
Inspector Colin Gallier, from Project Guardian, said: “We’ve seen the tragic consequences of someone carrying a knife, gun or other weapon too many times.
“They 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.”
The force works with partners through the Violence Reduction Partnership to divert young people away from crime.
It has specialist officers who are in schools daily, offering support to deter youngsters from violent or criminal behaviour.
West Midlands Police is calling on everyone including teachers, parents and carers all have a part to play and talk to the young people in their lives.
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