Knife crime in the West Midlands has fallen significantly following targeted police action and new legislation aimed at tackling violence.

West Midlands Police (WMP) reported a 25% drop in knife-enabled robberies since October 2024, with serious youth violence offences down 18% over the past year.

The fall comes as “Ronan’s Law”, banning ninja swords, officially takes effect.

The law is named in memory of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, who was fatally stabbed in a case of mistaken identity in Wolverhampton in June 2022. His mother, Pooja Kanda, campaigned for the legislation following his death.

Between April 2025 and early August, the force recorded 102 knife-related offences involving under-25s, down from 120 in the same period last year.

WMP said this reflects a wider trend following focused patrols in crime hotspots and increased educational outreach to young people.

The reduction follows the launch of a national taskforce across seven police forces last October. While the West Midlands saw the largest decline, the average drop across all areas was 6%.

Chief Constable Craig Guildford described the fall as “impressive” but warned that a “huge amount of work” is still needed, both by police and the wider community.

The region had previously recorded the highest knife crime rate in England and Wales in July 2024, but has since seen increased arrests and a 6% fall in reported offences by May this year.

The force says it remains committed to making the West Midlands safer and is continuing enforcement efforts alongside education and community engagement.