The Major Crime Unit at West Midlands Police is solely focussed on putting pressure on serious and organised crime.
Additionally, shootings have decreased by over 25%. There were 92 gun discharges last year, down from 126 the year before and 161 the year before that.
“Through our proactive efforts to identify and apprehend individuals who resort to violence and intimidation, we have discovered criminal gangs. In the event of significant incidents resulting in significant injuries to individuals on the streets of the West Midlands, we have responded promptly and resolutely to conduct inquiries and secure the long-term incarceration of those accountable.”
Two teams—one reactive and the other proactive—make up the unit.
Teams that are proactive get information, create cases to help put people behind bars, and make arrests for individuals implicated in major crimes.
In the past year, more than 50 persons have been charged by one of the six reaction teams alone, including 21 for attempted murder.
According to Det Supt Scott Griffiths, “We have dedicated resources to quickly review CCTV, mobile phone, and forensic evidence as a result of the new way of working that was implemented at the beginning of last year.”
“However, we’re also collaborating extremely closely with neighbourhood policing units to comprehend the impact on the community and acquire data and intelligence.”
They have conducted 71 manhunts in the past year. 44 of the suspects, who were all wanted for murder, were apprehended.
As a result of their efforts, 73 predatory sexual offenders have already been apprehended after authorities conducted undercover operations online.
Over £900,000 has been retrieved via seizures and legal proceedings. West Midlands Police will get half of the money back so they may use it to fund community safety initiatives.
