Police chief warns 'more needs to be done' after Darlaston stabbing

Chief Superintendent Andy Parsons, commander at Walsall Police, has spoken out in the wake of a fatal stabbing in Darlaston.

He said officers across Walsall were making a "huge amount of effort" to deter people from carrying knives but wanted to see more action to combat the issue.

It comes after Shane Mayer, from Wolverhampton, was stabbed in the leg during a fight in Forge Road and died in hospital.

Chief Supt Parsons said: "A tragic and senseless loss of life.

"There is a huge amount of effort across the whole partnership in Walsall to stop people carrying knives but we all need to do more and do better."

Mr Mayer was stabbed on Wednesday, July 24 and died from his injuries in hospital three days later.

A fundraising page launched on Sunday has raised more than £2,500 towards the 21-year-old's funeral costs.

Two 18-year-old men were arrested at the weekend on suspicion of murder – one has been released on police bail and the other has been released without charge.

A 19-year-old man who handed himself into police last Friday and was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder has been released on police bail.

West Midlands Police also said a 21-year-old man who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of affray has been released while inquiries continue.

The force confirmed there had been no further arrests in connection with Mr Mayer's death.

Relatives who paid tribute to Mr Mayer following his death said: "Our Shane, the ache in our hearts is unexplainable; we are all broken now forever. We have not only lost our son, his sister has lost her only brother.

"His family have lost their spark for life. Shane meant the world to all of us. We were a team and it's been destroyed and taken from us so soon."