West Midlands Police say their Guardian Taskforce made arrests and seized knives, drugs and suspected criminal cash across several areas, including activity linked to Chelmsley Wood, Shard End and Balsall Heath.
West Midlands Police have set out a string of arrests and seizures by their Guardian Taskforce, as part of Project Guardian, which targets knife crime and youth violence.
In an update published on 10 February 2026, the force described action across the force area, including stops and searches that led to weapons and drugs being recovered.
The incidents police highlighted
According to West Midlands Police:
- Officers patrolling around Wolverhampton city centre stopped and searched a man on 6 February. Police seized two wraps of Class A drugs and a knife. A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of knife and Class A drug offences. The force names him as Dean Everall, from Bridgnorth, and confirms he has been charged and is due at Dudley Magistrates’ Court on 5 March.
- In Chelmsley Wood on 7 February, officers spotted a vehicle in Roebuck Close. Police state they found a machete, cash, and wraps of Class A drugs. A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a bladed article and possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply. Police say he has been bailed while enquiries continue.
- In Balsall Heath on 7 February, officers stopped a car on Edward Road. Police report they seized cannabis, arrested a 26-year-old man, and dealt with the matter by community resolution.
- In Shard End on 9 February, police say a boy reacted to their presence and ran. Officers detained a 16-year-old after a short chase. Police report a “zombie knife” was found nearby and the boy was arrested on suspicion of possessing a bladed article. Police say he has been bailed pending further enquiries.
- Also on 9 February, officers in Lye stopped a man on Lye High Street. Police describe finding cannabis, cash and mobile phones believed to be linked to drug dealing. They say a 22-year-old man has been charged with possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply.
What Project Guardian is, in plain English
Police describe Project Guardian as a specialist effort aimed at knife crime and youth violence, using a mix of plain-clothes work, high-visibility patrols, and what they call “positive engagement” with young people.
The enforcement is the visible bit. The deeper test is what happens next: charges that stick, court outcomes that follow, and whether the same hotspots keep reappearing in press releases.
The wider context
Knife-enabled crime remains a major issue across the region. ONS figures show 4,116 knife-enabled offences in the West Midlands Police force area in the year ending September 2025. That was down 18% on the previous year, but it is still thousands of incidents in a single year.
What the public can do
West Midlands Police have asked people to report suspicious activity through 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers.
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