Police arrested more than 500 people in a week of action on knife crime and taken 400 weapons off London's streets.

In the latest phase of Operation Sceptre, ran from Monday (July 10) and saw officers engage with the community ahead of the summer holidays to tackle knife crime.

Over the course of the week Safer Schools officers visited 149 schools while across the city 318 knives, 12 firearms and 73 offensive weapons were recovered.

Borough officers were supported by a taskforce of 100 specialist officers to carry out weapon sweeps and intelligence-led operations.

Police also targeted repeat offenders in the hopes of finding those wanted in connection with knife crime or violent crime.

There are knife bins in Castle Way and High Street, Feltham, Hanworth Road, Hounslow, near Queen's Park Library, Ladbroke Grove, near Chequers House, Lisson Grove and in Station Road, Harlesden.

Police check a knife bin in Elephant and Castle

Acting Detective Chief Superintendent Sean Yates said: “We know the summer period can see an increase in knife crime so are ensuring we take positive action to try and prevent offences by working with our fellow police colleagues to remove knives and offensive weapons before any harm is caused.

“But such proactive action is only part of the solution as enforcement can only get us so far.

"The work of our schools officers and the various projects and conferences across the Met are helping to achieve this.”

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