Taxi stop sees Nottingham Police knife crime team pounce on passengers carrying blades
Officers from Nottingham’s knife crime team have confiscated a machete and a lock knife during a targeted operation near the city centre. The incident highlights ongoing efforts to reduce weapon-related threats in the area.
The team’s suspicions were piqued after observing unusual behaviour involving a suspect entering a taxi with two other individuals. A plain-clothed officer discreetly followed the vehicle while awaiting backup.
Once the specialist team regrouped, they coordinated a stop of the taxi in Old Basford, around 12.20pm on Tuesday 7 January. Acting swiftly, officers conducted stop-and-search procedures on the three passengers.
Their suspicions were quickly confirmed when a sheathed machete and a large lock knife were discovered in the vehicle. Both weapons were seized immediately.
Three men, aged 19, 19, and 20, were arrested on suspicion of possessing a bladed article in a public place. Investigations are ongoing.
The operation forms part of a wider initiative to combat knife crime in Nottingham, ensuring public safety remains a priority.
PC Ken Tinley, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Stops like this are exactly what our knife crime team was set up to try and achieve.
“Let’s be clear – there is never an excuse to carry a machete, lock knife, or any other blade for that matter, while out in a public setting.
“Doing this puts everyone in danger, including the person in possession of that weapon, which is an incredibly serious offence that will always be met with a robust police response.
“Our team goes out on our daily patrols with a clear intention of targeting potential knife-carriers, bringing suspects into custody, and taking any weapons we find out of harm’s way.
“We were able to achieve all three in this instance – making three arrests in the process – so this proved to be a very successful job all-round.”
