New stop and search powers for West Midlands Police in knife crime crackdown
West Midlands Police will be given new stop and search powers as part of a crackdown on knife crime.
The force is one of four in the country to pilot Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVROs), which give officers powers to target convicted knife and offensive weapons offenders.
Police will have the automatic right to search anyone who has previously been convicted of a weapons offence, without needing to suspect the individual of committing a crime.
Ministers say the orders will help police get more violent criminals off the streets, and also act as a deterrent to people thinking of carrying a blade.
The pilot – which will also be trialled by Thames Valley, Merseyside and Sussex police forces – will test how well the orders deter violent offenders from carrying weapons ahead of a possible national roll out.
Chief Constable Sir David Thompson of West Midlands Police, said: “We welcome this Home Office pilot on Serious Violence Reduction Orders as part of a wider public health approach for reducing violence in the West Midlands.
Target
“The orders will enable us to target those already convicted of certain knife offences, giving us the automatic right to search those who pose the greatest risk.
"It is crucial that these orders are policed fairly and effectively and that scrutiny is in place to ensure that happens. We also recognise search should be only one tool in changing the behaviour of those subject to the orders.
“Our work as part of the Violence Reduction Unit will also continue, alongside partner agencies, to reduce violence by preventing problems at the earliest possible stage through a wide range of activities.”
Policing Minister Kit Malthouse said: “We are absolutely committed to cutting crime, getting knives off our streets and putting violent criminals behind bars.
“The public want criminals who continue to carry knives and other deadly weapons, even after they have been caught before, to be stopped in their tracks.
“These orders give police the power to do just that and protect communities from harm.”
The West Midlands has the second highest rate of knife crime in the country according to Home Office figures, at 118 offences per 100,000 population.
