Weapons confiscated in police operation

8:58am Friday 4th July 2008

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A host of dangerous weapons have been seized from Haringey's streets as police continue to crack down on knife crime.

Since the start of Operation Blunt 2 in May, Haringey officers have confiscated 26 knives and 18 firearms, including stun guns and gas sprays.

Nineteen people have been charged with knife-related offences over the six weeks. Across the capital, 1,214 people were arrested for possession of weapons and knife-related crimes, with more than 500 knives recovered.

At a press conference yesterday, London Mayor Boris Johnson said the work would continue.

He said: "Everybody is shocked by the level of violence we are seeing, particularly towards young people in London, and we must all work as hard as we can together to reverse this dreadful trend.

"Operation Blunt 2 is an important part of the fight back against the terrible scourge of knife crime, with 1,214 arrests and 528 knives seized since it was launched just six weeks ago.

"This is only one area in which we are working to make our city safer, addressing the symptoms and the root causes of crime and violence."

Deputy mayor for policing, Kit Malthouse, is working with the police to introduce more handheld scanners and knife arches across London and introduce new initiatives such as crime mapping.

Mr Malthouse added: "It is clear the police have been active and visible in the past six weeks but we will never be complacent.

"Tackling crime will take a long-term approach with a range of measures to address the root causes of violence as well as measures to deter and detect crime."

Head of Blunt 2 in Haringey, Inspector Dave Gladwell, said: "Operation Blunt has been a great success so far, especially if you consider that each weapon seized has the potential to murder or maim. We are committed to preventing and deterring the carrying of knives and removing such weapons from circulation with the aim of preventing any further tragedies.

"Stop and search and modern technology such as knife arches and search wands provide us with valuable additional tools to discourage the carrying of knives, making the streets of Haringey a much safer place.

"If you carry a knife, you are more likely to become a victim and it will only result in heartache and anguish for you and your loved ones."

Anyone with information about people carrying knives is asked to call 999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.