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A West Midlands Police initiative has marked its first anniversary after delivering significant reductions in knife crime and serious youth violence across parts of Birmingham, alongside hundreds of arrests and major asset seizures.
Launched in January 2025, Operation Fearless was initially deployed in Erdington before expanding into Birmingham’s Southside area, with a focus on tackling the crimes most affecting local communities through increased patrols and proactive policing.
Over the past 12 months, officers have made more than 300 arrests and carried out over 500 stop-and-searches. In Erdington alone, knife crime has fallen by 80%, while serious youth violence has reduced by 60%.
The operation has also disrupted organised criminal activity, with more than £300,000 seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act, alongside the recovery of hundreds of thousands of pounds’ worth of illicit goods through joint operations with partner agencies.
Since expanding into Southside in April, the team has made more than 170 arrests, including uncovering a £1m illicit tobacco factory and dismantling illegal gambling operations, drug supply networks and organised exploitation activity.
Detective Chief Inspector John Askew said the operation had been driven by community concerns and visible policing.
“When we launched, we were clear that the whole team would listen to people in the areas we’re based in and act on their concerns to make communities safer,” he said. “The numbers speak for themselves, but what’s really pleasing is the feedback we’ve had from residents and business owners who tell us our presence has made a real difference.”
Detective Chief Inspector John Askew.
Alongside enforcement activity, the operation has invested in prevention through school-based knife crime workshops funded by seized criminal assets and delivered with partner organisations, aimed at educating young people about the risks of carrying knives.
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Simon Foster said the £1m investment was delivering tangible results.
“This investment has delivered exactly what I pledged: more police, more patrols, more safety and more security,” he said. “The dramatic reductions in knife crime and serious violence show what proactive, community-focused policing can achieve in keeping communities safe.”
PCC Simon Foster.
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