Advertisement

Police seize more than 400 knives including machetes in London crackdown

<p>An officer during the weapons sweep in London</p> (Metropolitan Police)

An officer during the weapons sweep in London

(Metropolitan Police)

More than 400 knives have been seized by police in London following a citywide operation targeting knife crime and violence, the Met confirmed.

Its officers worked with their British Transport Police (BTP) counterparts to carry out weapons sweeps, targeted patrols and search warrants targeting high risk offenders from April 26 to May 2.

It led to 411 blades being recovered, including machetes, Rambo-style knives, lock knives and kitchen knives, as well as 166 other weapons, with 994 people arrested as a result.

Commander Alex Murray, the Met’s violence lead, said: “I’m convinced that with us seizing so many knives, we have prevented further stabbings.

“The recent incidents of violence we have seen in London reminds us exactly why operations like this are so important.”

The force, alongside BTP, said it was using drug detection dogs and knife arches at transport hubs to help deter people from carrying weapons and drugs on trains and tubes.

Targeting those supplying the drugs was also a priority and officers used automatic number plate recognition technology to target people carrying and supplying drugs on the roads.

The death of Junior Jah took the number of teenage knife killings in London this year alone to 12, just three short of the 15 in the whole of 2020 — and on course to overtake the figure of 26 recorded in 2019.

Read More

Victim of fatal shooting in Hackney named as investigation continues

Drug dealer who stockpiled submachine guns at London flat jailed

Education laws will be ‘rocket fuel’ for levelling-up agenda, PM says