Large knife found in 15 year old boy’s school bag in Romford as 130 knives taken off the streets in just one week.

Yesterday Thursday November 24, Romford Town Safer Neighbourhood Team removed a large knife carried by a 15 year old boy in his school ruck sack. The boy was subsequently arrested. This comes as part of a Met wide crackdown on violent crime that has led to more than 500 arrests, with 130 knives taken off the streets, in just one week.

Activity was ramped up to target knife crime as part of the national operation, ‘Op Sceptre’.

Officers increased patrols in violence hotspots, executed warrants to target those known to carry knives and conducted weapons sweeps in areas known for discarded knives.

Working closely with the British Transport Police, knife arches were used at transport hubs to deter people from carrying weapons and drugs on trains and the tube. Met Special Constables and Police Cadets volunteered in their own time to assist regular officers in the operation.

Officers were also involved in visiting businesses to educate them and ensure they were not – and do not in the future – sell knives irresponsibly.

The Met know that early intervention is key to curbing violence, so crucially there was also a focus on education, diversion and prevention. Officers engaged with young people and community members through school presentations and community meetings. As part of the week-long intensification, officers across the capital visited a number of schools to educate, engage with and warn young people about the dangers of carrying knives. 

In total the operation, which ran from 14 to 20 November, resulted in:

• 514 arrests
• 995 weapon sweeps
• 130 knives recovered
• 17 warrants
• 104 community meetings and educational events, engaging with 949 people
• 88 school presentations and engagements, involving 2,466 young people
• 140 retailer visits

The operation was coordinated by the Met’s Violent Crime Taskforce (VCTF), which manages all London-wide operations focused on tackling violent crime.

Chief Inspector Rob Ranstead, who led the operation, said: “Our mission is to bear down on violence and make communities safer across London – it’s one of our priorities. 

“Operation Sceptre is an intensification of the work we already do every single day and officers will not stop doing everything they can to target those carrying weapons on our streets.

“Education and working with young people is one of the key elements around Op Sceptre. It is about raising awareness of the dangers and consequences of knife crime. We hope that people will make the right decision and not carry a knife so we can save lives and help keep our streets safe.’

“Policing alone can’t solve violent crime and I am grateful to all those partners and community members who worked alongside us during this activity and joined our efforts.”

We all have a part to play in tackling violent crime. It can be as simple as giving information about an incident or those who carry a weapon.

Any information you give to the independent charity Crimestoppers can make a difference in reducing knife crime and the harm it causes to families. Fill in their quick online form or call 0800 555 111 – 100 per cent anonymously. It could save a life.

The knife found by Romford Town Safer Neighbourhood Team yesterday belonging to a 15 year old boy.