A 17-YEAR-old from Longbridge has been arrested in response to a gang disorder.

Four people were arrested and vehicles seized during an intensive roads policing operation on May 24, which was carried out following a drug find in Frankley.

Officers from a gang patrol found two BB guns and £100-worth of cannabis hidden in bushes near Dordale Close in Frankley, which led to the nine-hour police hunt for gang members.

A total of 10 marked and unmarked police cars, bikes and vans take to the streets on the lookout for suspicious activity and for people with suspected gang links.

The Longbridge teenager was arrested from a car in Middle Park Road, and checks revealed he was wanted for repeatedly breaching an overnight curfew.

He will now appear in court.

Birmingham Police Inspector Simon Graham said: “It was a hugely successful operation – we committed a significant number of police vehicles as a show of strength and reassurance to local people while sending out a message to offenders that ‘we’re coming for you’.

“Recorded crime in the patrol areas was lower than the average and I definitely put that down to increased pro-active work.

“I hope that anyone aligning themselves to gangs, or considering doing so, is getting the message that we will take decisive action. “The public are our eyes and ears on the ground; if you suspect anyone is involved in gang related crime or anti-social behaviour then please contact us in confidence so we can take further action.”

‘Spotters’ from the Organised Crime and Gangs Unit joined the hunt in Northfield, Kings Norton, Weoley Castle, Longbridge and Bartley Green for people with suspected gang links.

Three other people were arrested, including a 24-year-old man from Bartley Green who was caught after trying to outrun traffic officers in a Renault Scenic.

He was pulled over in Halesowen, where he was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and possessing weapons after a wooden bat and metal baton were found in the car. He has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

A 19-year-old man was also arrested for failing to turn up at Birmingham Magistrates Court and a 24-year-old man detained after enquiries showed he was wanted for a domestic incident that saw him smash property at his partner’s home.

Four cars and a motorbike were also seized for being driven without insurance.