A teenager is due in court after officers seized a machete in Nottingham city centre.
Officers stopped the 14-year-old in Long Row on Thursday afternoon (9 July) as he had been reported missing.
He was taken to Central Police Station where he was found to be in possession of a machete.
The boy, who cannot be named due to his age, has been charged with possession of a bladed article in a public place.
He was granted bail with strict conditions not to enter Nottingham city centre and is due to appear at Nottingham Youth Court on 20 July.
Sergeant Cai Kemish, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“To carry such a dangerous weapon in a busy city centre is completely reckless and simply will not be tolerated.
“These types of weapons have no place in Nottingham, and neither do the people prepared to carry them who put themselves and others at risk of harm.
“Our message to those who carry a knife, or who are thinking of carrying one, is crystal clear – we will arrest you and we will charge you.
“Knives destroy lives and every blade we seize is one less dangerous weapon that can be used to cause serious harm or injury – potentially resulting in someone’s life being lost.
“We all need to work together to combat knife crime and we’re urging anyone with information on knife crime in their local community to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or 999 if it is an emergency.”
The arrest comes as Operation Reclaim continues in Nottingham city centre. Launched in May, the operation is a partnership approach to relentlessly targeting criminals who use the city centre to commit crime.
Nottinghamshire Police are using the Home Office tactic called Clear, Hold, Build, where we make the environment as hostile as possible for criminals to operate and ensure the vacuum cannot be filled once they are arrested and charged.
