Police take two more guns taken off the streets in Birmingham and Great Barr

The first weapon was uncovered following a stop and search of two teenagers on Erdington High Street on Tuesday evening by officers working under Operation Fearless.

The search uncovered cannabis and cash, with the 15-year-old and 16-year-old boys arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply.

A later search of a house in Erdington saw officers find live ammunition, a firearm and suspected Class A drugs, with the 15-year-old boy subsequently arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm and ammunition alongside four other people at the same address.

The other incident saw a handgun recovered from an alleyway in Great Barr after officers were called by a member of the public to Grove Vale Avenue at around 4pm, where they also recovered ammunition and a machete.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "Two more guns have been taken off the streets of the West Midlands as our fight against serious and organised crime continues.

"In Erdington last night (Tuesday 11 March), two boys, aged 15 and 16, were stopped and searched by Operation Fearless officers on patrol around the High Street.

"Cannabis and cash were found during the search, and both were arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply.

"As a result of the recovery, we carried out a further search at an address in Erdington, officers found live ammunition, a firearm, and suspected Class A drugs. The 15-year-old boy was further arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm and ammunition.

"Four other people were arrested at the same address, also on suspicion of possession of a firearm and ammunition. Both the ammunition and the weapon have been confirmed as live and viable.

"Officers remain at the scene today and the Operation Fearless team are working closely with our Major Crime Unit as the investigation continues.

"Separately, we have recovered a live shotgun from an alleyway in Great Barr. Officers were called by a member of the public to Grove Vale Avenue yesterday (11 March) around 4pm, where they also recovered ammunition and a machete.

"Our investigation into this is ongoing and anyone with information should contact us via Live Chat on our website, or by calling 101 quoting 20/172009/25."

Det Supt Jim Munro, leading Operation Fearless, said: “Hard work from our dedicated officers has resulted in drugs, a weapon, and dangerous ammunition being taken off the streets of Erdington.

“This is at the heart of what we are trying to achieve with Operation Fearless, as we work tirelessly to make the community safer.

“We are always listening to what people in the area are telling us, and we will continue to act on their concerns.”