Scotland Yard launched a week of action against knife crime in London today with targeted stop and searches and weapon sweeps in estates.
The action comes amid growing concern over the issue of knife crime in the capital with figures showing an increase in stabbings earlier this year.
The Met said the week-long blitz would include “intelligence-led stop and search” as well as proactive operations against gang members wanted in connection with knife offences and violent crime.
Police are also visiting shops with Trading Standards officials to test whether knives are being sold to those aged under 18 while the force is working with the charity ‘Words 4 Weapons’ which has 30 knife surrender bins across London.
The operation codenamed Operation Sceptre is the fifth week-long blitz on knives launched by the Met in the last 12 months.
Police say the intensive action is succeeding with the latest figures showing there were 37 fewer victims of knife crime in the last 12 months.
Officers say they have made 16,000 arrests, seized 771 firearms and taken 3,377 knives off the street.
Detectives from the Trident gangs unit have also been delivering presentations in schools with the aim of deterring them from joining gangs.
Last week Mayor Sadiq Khan attended the funeral of 20-year-old Lewis Elwin, a trainee electrician, who was stabbed to death near his home in Tooting in April.
Ahead of the church service, family and friends of Mr Elwin marched against knife and gang crime.
The first Sceptre operation was launched in July last year at a time when knife crime was rising by 20 per cent year on year.
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