Teenager, 16, pleads guilty to knife possession after being stopped by police in Erdington

A teenager has pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon after officers stopped the 16-year-old in Erdington.

Officers from the Guardian Taskforce spotted the teenager last Monday (15 January) discarding a knife in some bushes on Avenue Road and stopped him.

Following a search, officers also recovered a quantity of class B drugs.

The 16-year-old was arrested and later charged with possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and possession of class B drugs.

He was remanded to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court yesterday (Tuesday 23 January) where he pleaded guilty. He will be sentenced next month.

Inspector Libby Neal-Hewitt from the force’s Project Guardian Investigation Team in Birmingham, said: “Our dedicated Project Guardian Taskforce are committed to tackling serious youth violence and knife crime remains a priority for the force.

“We have also been given extra powers as part of a national pilot to tackle knife crime, including serious reduction orders.

“There are consequences to carrying, and using a knife, and we routinely prosecute those armed with a weapon and put them behind bars.

“Our teams also work with the Violence Reduction Partnership and schools to help divert young people from crime and anti-social activities.

“Our work is ongoing and it’s important we all play a part in continuing to reduce violence.”