An investigation has been launched after a man was stabbed in Birmingham this morning (Saturday 23 August).
Police were alerted to the crime on Cromwell Street in Nechells at around 8.20am following a call from the ambulance service.
Officers raced to the scene and found a local man, believed to be in his 30s, with multiple stab wounds.
The man was taken to hospital by air ambulance. His condition is described as serious but stable and his next of kin have been informed.
Witnesses have been spoken to and CCTV footage which may have captured the criminals on camera has been secured.
Forensic examiners are due to visit the site later today and the area remains cordoned off while inquiries continue.
Initial inquiries suggest that the man was stabbed following a dispute outside the Medway tower block.
Detective Inspector Derek Packham, from force CID, said: “At this time the motive for the attack is unclear but I have a number of officers and other specialist staff involved in this investigation.
“While our primary concern is the welfare of the man who was stabbed, we’re working hard to find the person or people responsible.”
Anyone with information which may help police should call 101. People who do not want to speak with police officers directly can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
In 2013 West Midlands Police launched a long running campaign – Knives End Lives – to raise awareness of the consequences of carrying a knife.
The initiative has seen the introduction of knife surrender bins across Birmingham and Wolverhampton and an education programme called Choices which has been received by around 60,000 youngsters.
As part of the initiative:
• Training has been delivered to 250 teachers from across the region in Fearless – a Crimestoppers programme designed to support young people in both managing peer pressure and encouraging social responsibility in crime reporting.
• There have been 20 intelligence led undercover test-purchase operations over the past 12 months with only two traders breaking the law by selling knives to under 18s.
• Pop-up airport-style metal detectors have appeared at transport hubs and interchanges in one-off intelligence led policing operations.
• Around 50 teachers have been reminded in police led training sessions of their powers in relation to searching for weapons on school premises.
• 150 people – including the parents of murdered schoolgirl Christina Edkins – attended a pioneering drama project financed by the Police Property Act Fund. Around 30 youngsters, aged between 13 and 18, were involved in the production performing their own songs and poetry about how knife crime has affected them, following several weeks of rehearsals alongside music producers and drama professionals.
• Last November, officers in one of Birmingham’s most deprived areas took the bold step of taking community members with them on a bus operation after they had confided in police that they felt unsafe using buses following the death of a 16 year-old boy. The operation, in partnership with National Express and initiated in a direct response to these concerns, demonstrated how the latest technology is keeping passengers safe – including the use of microscopic microphones which automatically detect vandalism and high definition CCTV cameras triggered by a detection to zoom straight in on the vandals,
• Each of the 10 local policing units in the West Midlands now have dedicated knife crime leads driving work to target offenders and drive down offences in their area through awareness, education, work with partner agencies, voluntary groups and most importantly, local young people.
