West Midlands Police has joined a major new government task force aimed at reducing knife robberies.

Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster traveled to London with Chief Constable Craig Guildford to meet the Home Secretary and Police Minister for the first meeting of the task force.

The working group will focus on further action that can be taken by policing partners to tackle, prevent and reduce knife robbery.

The taskforce is made up of the Home Secretary – Yvette Cooper MP, the Minister for Policing – Diana Johnson MP, police and crime commissioners and mayors from the seven force areas with the highest rate of knife robbery.

Police chiefs and other officials trying to reduce serious violence, knife crime and robbery will also take part.

The new group will meet monthly over the next six months to assess what action can be taken in each area.

The Commissioner chairs the board that oversees the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP).

The VRP has a key focus on preventing youth violence and knife crime. They do this through a range of projects including education, youth workers and tailored support for young people in places such as schools, hospitals and police custody centres.

Mr Foster, said: “Recent figures show there has been a 13% reduction in serious youth violence in the West Midlands.

“This means that the work of the Violence Reduction Partnership, West Midlands Police and our other partners is starting to have a positive impact and reduce violence.

“While this is welcome, we are not satisfied and never will be.

“I’m keen to work with my counterparts across the country and central government to see how we can pool efforts and resources to reduce robbery and knife crime and keep communities safe.”

The task force is part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission to halve knife crime within a decade.