A MAJOR operation to reduce knife crime in the region has resulted in more than 2,500 arrests.

Operation Jemlock was launched in April last year in response to serious violent crime, including knife-enabled offending.

Officers have also removed more than 150 knives and other weapons from the streets of West Yorkshire and submitted over 4,000 pieces of intelligence to help in the fight against violent criminality.

Knife-enabled serious violence has been reduced by over ten per cent – a drop of 268 offences in the past year, compared to the same period in 2018.

In total, Operation Jemlock officers have recorded 2,508 arrests, 1,793 stop searches, 4,379 intelligence reports and 158 weapon seizures.

Further funding has been allocated for this financial year.