Police Fight Back Against Knife Crime With Weapon Sweeps

24 April 2019, 13:36 | Updated: 24 April 2019, 15:13

An axe hidden in Grantham Road SW9.
An axe hidden in Grantham Road SW9. Picture: Twitter @MPSLarkhall

With a wave of knife crime sweeping London police have taken to social media to show the deadly weapons found hidden on London's streets.

Stabbing deaths rose to 285 in 2017-18, the highest ever recorded in the UK, with police and MPs under increasing pressure to resolve the problem.

The Met's answer was the Violent Crime Task Force. From 1st April 2018 to 17th April 2019, the VCTF seized 809 knives, 571 offensive weapons and made 4,224 arrests for weapons, violence and drug-related offences .

The task force also carried out 7556 weapons sweeps in public parks and open spaces looking for weapons and drugs.

A Met spokesperson said that the London force took an organisational-wide approach, seeing officers from different teams working together "not only to detect, but also to prevent violent crime in both the short and long term."

On a national level Operation Sceptre is part of a police initiative across the country to get weapons off the streets. The Operation sees police and community groups conducting 'weapons sweeps' of areas where the risk of knife crime is high.

Police have encouraged whole communities to get involved in weapons sweeps.

Police have also been working with schools and transport hubs to conduct random metal detector operations, which see teams of officers descending on an area and screening large numbers of people.

Brent Police seized a 5inch weapon earlier this year and shared the disturbing find on Twitter.

Meat cleaver taken from a school pupil.
Meat cleaver taken from a school pupil. Picture: Twitter @MPSBrent

They said in a statement: “#NWERPTD have arrested a 14 year old Male in possession of a meat cleaver after he tried to slash another pupils face after a dispute in school.”

The weapon was seized as part of Operation Sceptre, an effort to crack down on the UK’s growing knife crime epidemic.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

The parents of the victims of the Southport attack have called for change

'We will never feel true happiness again': Parents of Southport victims pay tribute to daughters as they call for change

Keith Kellogg has reportedly told allies he is preparing 'end of war' options to present to Donald Trump

America's Russia-Ukraine envoy preparing 'end of war options' to present to Trump

Travel agency says people should look to go away at Easter instead to save money

End of the summer holiday? Families told to go away at Easter instead to save thousands

Labour MP Ashley Dalton

Keir Starmer names replacement for Labour MP sacked after sending offensive messages in vile WhatsApp chat

The bodies of Andrew Searle and his wife Dawn were discovered by a neighbour

Mystery grows over couple found dead in rural France as friends reject murder-suicide theory

Loose Women stars Andrea McLean, Denise Welch, Lisa Maxwell and Sally Lindsay

Loose Women star rushed to hospital and diagnosed with severe pneumonia and sepsis after collapsing at home

Father jailed for at least 15 years after murdering daughter, 14, in 'kitchen play fight'

Father jailed for at least 15 years after murdering daughter, 14, in 'kitchen play fight'

Elsie Dot Stancombe and Bebe King

'Our children need to be safer': Families of Southport victims call for inquiry as they pay tribute

Nigel McCrery, author and scriptwriter

Silent Witness and New Tricks creator dies after short illness as tributes flood in

Carnage in Philadelphia as Eagles fans take to the streets following Super Bowl win

Carnage in Philadelphia as Eagles fans take to the streets following Super Bowl win

Speaking for the first time since the charity stopped taking donations, Ms Ingram-Moore declared it is time to “move on” after her family’s reputation was “demolished."

'It's time to move on': Captain Tom's daughter says her family's reputation has been 'demolished' by charity investigation

Los Angeles, USA. 02nd Feb, 2025. Kanye West walking on the red carpet during the 67th Grammy Awards held at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA on February 2, 2025. (Photo by Elyse Jankowski/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa US/Alamy Live News

Kanye West's X account deactivated by Elon Musk following 'antisemitic rampage'

Closeup of chicken nuggets on the plate at the table

Albanian criminal’s deportation halted because son doesn't like foreign chicken nuggets

Oliver Ryan and Sir Keir Starmer

Second Labour MP ‘deeply regrets’ involvement in vile WhatsApp group - after minister sacked for remarks

The Palace Pier at Brighton captured during twilight.

Five men arrested after woman 'raped' in Brighton property overnight

US President Donald Trump salutes as the national anthem is played before the start of Super Bowl LIX

Trump makes history and Taylor Swift booed as Eagles demolish Chiefs to deny them Super Bowl three-peat