POLICE across the West Midlands are going ‘all out’ on knife crime in a week of targeted activity.
This week’s campaign is focusing on raising awareness and educating groups most vulnerable to becoming involved in knife crime, either ‘as a victim or as perpetrators’.
Local neighbourhood and partnership teams, investigation teams and response officers will also be using intelligence to target individuals, gangs and problem areas.
And neighbourhood officers will be visiting schools across the West Midlands to talk to pupils about the dangers of carrying knives and to highlight the potential tragic consequences.
The Precious Lives project, funded by the PCC is also part of the week’s activity.
The force says it has already engaged with over 150,000 school children since its launch in 2011, and will be delivered to a further 1500 schoolchildren this week.
Officers and staff will also be working with trading standards to further educate shop owners about the importance of challenging underage customers, and selling knives and bladed objects within the law.
The campaign will also promote the PCC’s knife surrender bins situated in locations across the West Midlands, encouraging people to dispose of knives and blades safely.
Superintendent Keith Fraser said: “This is a chance for us to really highlight the dangers involved with carrying a knife, even if it’s just for protection.
“A lot of this activity is part of our daily business. However it always helps to have a really focused, concerted effort to target one issue. We also want to provide reassurance to our communities who we know have some real concerns around knife crime, following a number of high-profile crimes earlier this year.
“Knife crime is a priority for us and the proactive work across the whole region this week underlines that. We will continue to tackle this issue that has such a detrimental impact on our communities and how safe they feel.
“To be clear, there is no excuse to carry a knife. Knife crime can be utterly devastating and if you are found illegally in possession of a knife you will be arrested and brought to justice.
“Knives do not keep you safe – quite the opposite. By carrying a knife you are putting yourself in much greater danger, being more likely to become involved in a violent situation and get injured yourself.
“Education is key to tackling knife crime: we need to reach young people at a time in their life before they become offenders.”
