Knife crime possession up 130% in the West Midlands
18 July 2019, 12:05 | Updated: 18 July 2019, 12:10
Police figures obtained by Heart FM show that knife possession has more than doubled and gun possession has increase by 228% over the last 4 years.
Birmingham West is still one of the worst areas for gun and knife crime - over 1100 knife crime police reports were made just last year.
In Coventry, gun possession has increased by over 500% with 24 reported injuries or fatalities just last year. It also had the largest increase of reported gun crime - up 88% since 2014.
West Midlands Police will be taking part in a firearm amnesty which starts on Saturday 20 July. During 2018's amnesty, 115 firearms were handed in and taken off the street.
There'll also be a new focus on tasers and stun guns that are disguised as everyday items.
#SURRENDER Only two days to go until the national two week firearms surrender led by @NABIS_UK begins!
— West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) 18 July 2019
The surrender will run between Saturday 20 July and Saturday 4 August. Full details on our site.
https://t.co/V7r0rS5mJo
We spoke to former gang member Ezekiel King - he said his home life was what led him into gang culture because of the normalisation of drug dealing and violence.
@ezekielking18 grew up in a household where guns and drugs were normal
— Heart West Midlands News (@HeartWMidsNews) July 18, 2019
His first experience of a gun when he was about 9 years old #HeartNews pic.twitter.com/8Wds5Q4ZfG