Knife crime in West Midlands is becoming a 'real emergency', says police chief

West Midlands Police Chief Constable Dave Thompson said that the force have now seen a 'willingness to use and carry knives' in the region.

He added that what used to be fist fights between young people – has turned into knives being drawn, resulting in victims being seriously injured or killed.

Mr Thompson and West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson have spoken out after another stabbing in Birmingham city centre. A 16-year-old was stabbed in the leg at the British Heart Foundation store, in Bull Street, at around 5.30pm on Tuesday.

It comes as three teenagers were killed in knife attacks in the space of a fortnight this month in Birmingham.

The police chief has vowed to implement extensive stop and search powers for the forseeable future, as they step up their efforts to tackle the rising surge of knife crime.

He also pledged to continue extra patrols with additional officers in areas of Birmingham, offering communities visible reassurance. He also urged parents to have conversations with their children.

Mr Thompson said: "This week has been horrific in the West Midlands which has seen the tragic loss of young lives. The three cases in the last weeks are unconnected in what has taken place, but sadly there is a theme that connects them.

“What we do see in this city is a willingness to use and carry knives.

"Those crimes have caused huge fear and had a devastating impact on the community. In my mind, this has become a real emergency.

“The challenge we see is while sometimes knives are used in crimes and gangs, we can see clearly with these three innocent victims and other incidents we have seen, what would have been fist fights are being tackled by knives being drawn.

“This requires some blunt action. We will carry out those searches to drive out the culture we see where people feel comfortable to carry knives. We ask for young people’s understanding – we are trying to protect them and make them see they don’t need to carry a knife.

“We want support from parents and the community. This won’t be something that happens over a few days, or a few weeks – the action will need to carry on and be sustained until I can be satisfied we are driving that culture out.

“My advice to mums and dads – have that conversation with your kids, know where they are, deter any sense that this is something they should be doing.

“Young people can have a positive role in deterring these offences – they have a role to play. We need their help.”

Hazrat Umar, 17, was found seriously injured in Bordesley Green and died at the scene on Monday. On February 20, 16-year-old Abdullah Muhammad was discovered fatally wounded near a park in Small Heath.

Another teenager, Sidali Mohamed, also 16, died in hospital on February 15 after being attacked outside a college in Balsall Heath.

Mr Jamieson added: "I support the chief constable and his officers in what they are trying to do in tackling this serious, violent crime in the city. It is a happening throughout the country. Here in Birmingham we are seeing a particular problem.

“Birmingham is the youngest city and it’s young people who are likely to be the perpetrators and victims. One time it was fist fights, now they are pulling out knives either seriously injuring or killing them.

"We need the support of local communities to stop this violence. It is not a job the police can do alone and they can’t simply arrest their way out of this problem.

"We can solve this and we will solve this."