HUNDREDS of weapons have been taken off the streets as part of the Anti Knife Crime Week held by police in West Mercia, West Midlands and other forces across the country.
During a special day of action last Thursday, a knife arch was set up at railway stations in Bromsgrove and Longbridge, police reinforced the message in Redditch and weapons sweeps were carried out in all three areas.
A youth was arrested and a knife seized at Longbridge Station while a 16-year-old boy was held for possession of cannabis.
One man was arrested at the same station for public order offences towards West Midlands Railway inspectors who were also checking tickets.
For the operation, officers from British Transport Police and West Midlands Police were joined by Safer Travel Officers and West Midlands Railway Revenue Inspectors.
PCSO Cindy Tierney told The Standard: “Operations like this act as a good deterrent and it also provides reassurance to law-abiding passengers.”
Knife surrender bins were set up in areas across north Worcestershire, including Church Hill, the Woodrow Centre and Abbeydale in Redditch, Rubery, Hagley and Alvechurch.
Weapons sweeps were carried out as part of the drive which ran between May 15 and 21 and was backed by Operation Sceptre – the national campaign to warn – especially to young people – of the dangers of carrying a knife.
