Police in Walsall said one of their officers detained a male during a stop and search, at around 7pm, on January 31
A knife suspect was detained after police said it was the ‘shortest foot chase in policing history.’
Police in Walsall said one of their officers detained a male during a stop and search, at around 7pm, on January 31.
He was stopped within three-seconds.
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Police said he was searched and allegedly found to be in possession of a kitchen knife.
Police said he was then arrested, taken to custody and charged for the offence.
In a post on X, St. Matthew’s Police said today, Sunday, February 16: “#ARREST | Shortest foot chase in Policing history?
“This is the moment one of our officers detained a male for a stop search.
“During this search the male was found to be in possession of a kitchen knife, he was then arrested, taken to custody and charged for the offence.”
Stop and search explained:
Without the power of being able to stop and search individuals police suspect of having participated in or are about to commit a crime, officers would be faced with a much tougher challenge on our streets.
Stop and search is never used lightly and police officers will only exercise their legal right to stop members of the public and search them when they genuinely suspect that doing so will further their investigations into criminal activity – whether that means looking for weapons, drugs or stolen property.
Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 is different to normal stop and search as it gives police the right to search people without reasonable grounds.
This can only happen in a defined area at a specific time when a senior officer believes there is a possibility of serious violence, or weapons are involved.