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One of the firearms seized in Blunt 2 raids this week

A TOTAL of 169 people have been arrested so far in a week-long series of raids across the capital to tackle youth and gang-related violence. It is part of a continuing and sustained drive by the Met to tackle violence against young people, and to take lethal weapons out of the community, under Operation Blunt 2. Much of the intelligence that has led this operation has come from the community itself, through some people telling Crimestoppers their concerns about violent people in their community.

There has been activity in each of the 32 London boroughs, with a focus on those who offend in groups or gangs. Many gangs and groups have been disrupted by this activity.

The operation has targeted those involved in serious youth violence, including knife related offences, sending a clear message that carrying weapons in public places in not permitted in the UK. People should be clear that they will be committing a criminal offence if they carry a weapon.

Arrests have been made for a number of offences, including robbery, burglary, assault and firearms offences.

Police have seized knives, imitation firearms, firearms, a dog, believed to be prohibited under the dangerous dogs act and £11,200 in cash and a large quantity of cannabis and drugs.

Seized items include guns, ammunition,  knives and drugs

These include a sawn off shotgun, 9mm pistol and 70 rounds of ammunition seized at an address in Islington. Two men have now been charged in connection with this matter. In Lambeth officers seized a dog prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act and a quantity of drugs at an address in SW2 and arrested a 20-year-old man who has been bailed pending further inquiries. In Tower Hamlets, two hand pistols, believed to be air pistols, were recovered from an address, along with knives and CS spray canisters.

A man has been arrested in connection with this and is bailed pending further inquiries.

In North London, a specially adapted ballpoint pen with a two-inch blade concealed inside was seized. Two youths have been arrested in connection with this, one is on bail, one has been charged.

Hundreds of officers from across the Met have been deployed in the operation, with support from partners, including British Transport Police, City of London Police and UK Borders' Agency.

We have used a wide range of enforcement tactics in support of this operation, including the use of screening arches at transport hubs, stop and search operations and searches of open spaces for weapons.

This week's activity follows on from a successful summer operation, when 250 people were arrested during raids across the capital in day, which was the biggest intelligence-led operation carried out under Operation Blunt 2.

It demonstrates the Met's continued commitment to tackling violence against young people. Since Operation Blunt 2 launched on 1 April 2009, we have conducted more than 380,000 stop and searches, arrested 14,700 people and recovered more than 7,500 knives.

Commander Mark Simmons, the head of the Met's Violent Crime Directorate which has led this week's operation, said: "This week's activity is being carried out on behalf of our communities in London. A lot of the activity you are seeing is a direct result of members of the public asking us to take action against violent people in their community through organisations like Crimestoppers.

"We know that the vast majority of young people are law-abiding citizens and we are working to keep them safe. We are focusing our activity on a very small minority of young people who are involved in violent offending - which is wholly unacceptable to the communities of London. Members of the public are sick and tired of this and we acting on their behalf.

"There have been reductions in knife crime and youth homicides, but we are not complacent. We will continue to hunt down anyone who carries, uses, stores or supplies lethal weapons.

"We will also focusing on seizing criminal assets sending a clear message that crime does not pay."

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "I want to pay tribute to the dedication of every officer involved in this week's operations. We are sending out a strong message that if you carry a knife or a gun or commit acts of violence there is no place to hide. As seen from the last few days, you will be caught by the police and locked up behind bars.

"The success of these targeted raids has led to violent gangs and deadly weapons being taken off our streets, making London a safer place for everyone."

Anyone with information about the carriage, use, storage or supply of weapons is being encourage to contact their local police or, if they wish to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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16 October 2009