POLICE in Worcester have bucked the national trend for rising knife crime by reporting a fall as officers vow to tackle the gangs which bring drugs and violence to the city.

West Mercia Police officers operating in South Worcestershire have made nearly 100 arrests and seized knives as part of Operation Blade.

As a result South Worcestershire has witnessed knife crime fall by 25 per cent for the financial year ending in March this year, bucking the national trend which has seen a 16 per cent rise in offences involving knives or sharp instruments over the same period.

The figures were published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) when it released its figures for police-recorded crimes.

Continued efforts across South Worcestershire are being made to reduce harm and protect the public including a large operation, code-named Blade.

Operation Blade has made 99 arrests and in a number of planned raids has interrupted the county lines drug supply by seizing drugs and weapons since its inception in September last year.

Three of these 99 arrests were made on Thursday in a planned raid, the day after a non-related drug gang received a total of nearly 28 years in prison for drugs offences.

The Worcester News has already reported how Asgar Khalfe, his lieutenant, Terry Melsom, and drivers Christopher Franklin and Shakur Hussain were arrested in Worcester on October 16 last year.

They had been trafficking heroin and crack cocaine into Worcester from Birmingham.

Detective Inspector Tony Garner said: "County line drug supply causes a wide range of harm to the local community including the risk of serious violence and knife crime.

"Operation Blade has now arrested 99 people linked to county lines since it was set up in September last year and taken a number of weapons off the street. Our focus is on reducing harm and protecting our community."

He added: "Knife crime in South Worcestershire is down by 25 per cent compared with last year, and this is really positive news especially in light of the fact that nationally knife crime has increased significantly over the same period."

Operation Blade is an ongoing effort to tackle county lines drugs coming into Worcester from bigger cities. If you have any information about the supply of drugs in the town you can report it on 101.

People can also provide information anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.