Two teenagers charged selling weapons on social media

Today, Friday 4 October, two teenagers from Worcestershire have been charged with selling weapons on social media.

Yesterday, officers from Merseyside Police attended two addresses in Stourport-on-Severn following a proactive investigation into the sale of knives and weapons on social media.

Money and several weapons were seized including extendable batons, machetes, swords, flick knives and a knuckle duster.

Two 16-year-old males from Stourport-on-Severn, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been charged with publishing material suggesting that a knife was suitable for combat, offering to supply or sale/hire an offensive weapon, possession of a weapon in a private place, and manufacturing/selling/hiring or offering/exposing/possessing for the purpose of sale/ hire a flick/gravity knife.

They have been remanded into custody to appear at Kidderminster Magistrates Court today.

The warrant was part of a County Lines operation led Merseyside Police in conjunction with officers from West Mercia to tackle the online sale of knives and weapons across the country.

Detective Sergeant Kieran Connolly from Project Medusa at Merseyside Police said: “We are resolute in removing weapons from the streets, and are targeting vendors selling such weapons on social media to prevent them getting into the wrong hands and causing fear and harm on in communities.

“We continue to seek out those involved in knife crime, whether selling knives, carrying them or using them.

“While we are making positive progress, we understand the devastating consequences of carrying a knife and are relentless in our approach to targeting and pursuing criminals.

“The use of knives and any weapons is reckless and will not be tolerated, and can have tragic consequences, not only for the victim and their family but also for the offenders involved. 

“There is no place for knives in our communities. I would urge anyone with information to get in touch or call Crimestoppers anonymously so we can act on community intelligence.”

If you have any information about suspected weapons in your area, please contact @MerPolCC, 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.