#Op Sceptre

Op Sceptre Week

Dear Resident

Our Guardian Taskforce has continued their momentum in driving down knife crime and youth violence by making over 60 arrests and seizing dozens of weapons across the force area.

During April the Guardian officers carried out patrols across Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull, and also on the western side of the force in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

A total of 62 arrests were made. And while patrolling, there were 257 stop searches carried out which led to 46 weapons being seized, including knives.

Teams from Guardian made 24 arrests in Birmingham, and 12 across Coventry and Solihull for multiple offences.

Over in the western side, the Guardian team made 26 arrests.

Inspector Colin Gallier, from the Guardian Taskforce, said: "Our teams continue to work incredibly hard to take knives and weapons off the streets.

"Every knife seized is potentially a life saved. And these knives are the reason why we need to continue to carry out stop and searches.

"We work alongside other teams in local policing areas to take action and also warn against the risks of carrying a weapon. This remains ongoing as we continue our work to reduce incidents.”

This week you will see more officers on the ground completing weapon sweeps, school visits, and warrants, in an effort to remove more weapons from our streets and bringing offenders to justice.

Sceptre (18- 24 May) brings together all 43 police forces across England and Wales in a week of intensified action with forces coordinating activity which targets knife crime from the root cause right through to enforcement.  

If you see something suspicious in your area, get in touch with us by calling 101 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to stay anonymous. In an emergency, always call 999.