Major UK police force increasing specialist unit to tackle knife crime crisis

One of Britain's biggest police forces is expanding a specialist knife crime and youth violence unit. West Midlands Police announced an additional team will be based in the Black Country as part of the Project Guardian Taskforce.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Drover said the taskforce has made "a real difference". He said: "In the last 12 months alone, the teams have averaged almost 30,000 hours of patrols; seized more than 450 weapons and made nearly 800 arrests.This investment by the force means we can further increase the impact the taskforce makes and help to keep our communities safe.

"Tragically, we've all seen the consequences of someone being armed with a weapon on the streets."

Knife crime has reduced by 16% and serious youth violence has fallen by more than 13% in the region, according to figures released by the force last month.

Last year, data from the Office for National Statistics showed the West Midlands Police area had the highest rate of knife crime offences in England and Wales.

The expansion of the Project Guardian Taskforce will now see it made up of five rather than four teams, consisting of 50 officers.

The newest is set to be created this month and will be funded by West Midlands Police - the existing four were funded by the Home Office.

The team will be the second based in the Black Country; with one focusing on Dudley and Sandwell and the other on Walsall and Wolverhampton.

Two teams already cover Birmingham, while there is another for Coventry and Solihull.

Officers part of Project Guardian adopt a range of tactics from plain-clothed operations to high visibility patrols.

The teams look to act on information and also monitor hotspot areas, according to West Midlands Police.

The force added it also has officers in schools on a daily basis as part of efforts to deter youngsters from carrying weapons or taking part in criminal behaviour.

Latest figures from West Midlands Police show crime has fallen by 6% across the region.