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Hackney Borough Police have seized 59 dangerous weapons in the first four weeks of Operation Blunt 2 - the Metropolitan Police’s initiative to tackle serious youth violence across London.

During this period 28 people were charged with knife-related crimes and several incidents are under investigation, with individuals currently on police bail.

"I would like to see parents taking more responsibility - ensuring their children do not leave the home carrying a knife."

Hackney’s Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Steve Dann

During the first four weeks of the operation, police have seized:
- 41 knives
- 2 guns
- 16 offensive weapons (including knuckle dusters, snooker cues, metal bars etc.)

More good news

Since the start of April 2008, serious knife crime in Hackney is down 26% compared to the same period last year.

The police have employed a range of tactics to seize weapons including intelligence-led stop and search, searching estates for hidden weapons, knife arches at transportation hubs and ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) operations.

Hackney’s Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Steve Dann said: “Knife crime destroys families and I would like to see parents taking more responsibility - ensuring their children do not leave the home carrying a knife, for example.

"Young people who carry knives and other offensive weapons are more likely to be victims of knife crime themselves.

"Over the past two years, knife crime in Hackney has fallen by over a third, however high-profile cases make it apparent that there is a trend to carry a knife amongst a minority of young people. "

School presentations

In support of their initiative the police in Hackney have also been running anti-knife and violence presentations in schools, street pastor patrols and ‘Prison me no way’ visits - a programmeÌý to turn young people away from crime.

Police have also been conducting visits and delivering letters to the families of young people found in possession of a knife, warning them that they may be in breach of their tenancy agreements and risk losing their home.