The Growing Knife Crime Crisis in the West Midlands: Is It Time for Knife Wands and Arches?

Hi and welcome to this JK NEWS B'HAM Op-Ed Editorial for VPN: REGIONAL NETWORKS:

Knife crime in the West Midlands has reached epidemic levels. According to police records, the region has the highest rate of knife crime in the country, with more incidents per capita than even London. This represents a significant concern for public safety in the region. It indicates a disturbing trend, and matches the suspicion based in the experience of many knife crime campaigners in the region that more and more people in the West Midlands are carrying knives, and tragically, a large number of them are prepared to use them.

To be clear, mere possession of a knife is not part of these devastating figures.Out of all recorded knife crime incidents in the UK, a staggering 44.46% were assaults, and 41.3% were robberies - all terrifying, violent incidents. But these statistics only tell part of the story, as these figures include homicide, attempted murder and sexual crimes where the perpetrators were armed with bladed weapons.

Regarding these horrific cases, the tragic murders of individuals like Cody Fisher and Shawn Seesahai have given another insight into how carrying and using of knives has devastating consequences.

Cody Fisher, a promising young footballer, was murdered after a minor altercation in a nightclub. What began as a trivial bump turned into a devastating murder, when someone who took offence hatched the plan of taking deadly revenge and conspired with friends to stab the footballer days later. This case fits a pattern in which knives are no longer just a tool for serious criminals but increasingly a weapon used in the service of ego and status, including by younger and younger individuals.

This is a cultural shift that cannot be ignored and which was highlighted by further recent cases. In 2023, Shawn Seesahai, 19, was murdered by the UK’s youngest ever knife murderers, two boys aged 12 and 13, at least one of whom was regularly carrying a knife.

With knife crime spiralling out of control, it invites the question: should the West Midlands and other regions adopt more advanced measures to stop the carrying of knives? Could knife wands and knife arches be the solution to this pressing issue?

Currently, knife arches and wands are used in high-risk areas such as nightclubs and bars, where security personnel use them to scan patrons for weapons. These tools have proven effective in these controlled environments, identifying individuals carrying knives before they can use them in violent crimes. If this technology is working in these limited spaces, is it time to expand and enhance its use in public areas such as shopping centres and train stations?

Increased use of knife arches and wands in public spaces could significantly boost detection before knives cause harm. Walking through a shopping mall or train station and being scanned by an arch or wand could trigger a search if a beep occurs. Similarly, avoiding one might arouse police suspicions.

The visible presence of this technology could deter knife-carrying. These measures would be cost-effective, reducing the opportunity for knife crime in high-risk areas.

As knife crime continues to surge, we can’t afford to overlook proven solutions. The West Midlands’ crisis demands urgent action. Knife arches and wands could help restore safety and reduce the risk of future tragedies like those of Cody Fisher and Shawn Seesahai. It may be time to expand their use to protect our communities.

Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.

Jason King

Birmingham City-Desk

Twitter (X) @JasonKingNews

Jasonkingnews@gmail.com