Knife crime reports total 2,300

West Midlands Police has pledged to fight knife and gun crime

More than 2,300 knife crimes took place in the West Midlands police area in the 12 months to March, new police-recorded figures show.

West Midlands Police recorded the second highest number of knife crimes in England and Wales. The Metropolitan Police was top with 7,409 offences.

It is the first time crimes involving a blade have been recorded separately, although murder is not included.

Overall crime figures have fallen by 11% in the region.

It was the sixth year running that overall crime recorded by the force had fallen, a spokeswoman said.

The force said it had undertaken a number of initiatives to fight gun and knife crime.

The spokeswoman added it "continued to work in partnership with other agencies and the communities it serves to take both firearms and knives off the streets".

Police-recorded crime across England and Wales fell 9% in the 12 months to March, the latest figures suggest.

Serious violent crimes involving a blade have previously been put with other attacks, but since April last year officers have recorded them separately in light of growing public concern.

Police recorded 22,151 offences involving knives last year in England and Wales, including grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, woundings and robbery.

The figures do not include murder or manslaughter, which are recorded separately.

Prime Minister Gordon Mr Brown said he wanted to make carrying a blade as "unacceptable" as having a gun on the streets.