Croydon police will be conducting weapon sweeps and targeted stop and searches this week as part an initiative to tackle knife crime.

The fifth phase of Operation Sceptre, run by the Metropolitan Police, will run from today until June 26.

During the week officers will also run proactive operations to target those wanted in connection with knife-related offences and violent crime.

In the 12 months from April 2015 to April this year the number of violent crimes in Croydon dropped from 10, 091 to 9,153.

There was a 24 per cent reduction in knife crime in the borough in 2015/16 compared to the previous year.

Chief Superintendent Andy Tarrant said: “Knife crime is a key priority for us and we work to not only arrest those in possession of knives, but educate around the dangers of knife crime.

“Many carry a knife for self-protection but analysis shows that in any altercation, often the knife carrier will have the weapon taken off them with it then being used against them.

“A recent change in the law means that those caught in possession of a knife on two occasions or more will immediately be sent to prison.”

The number of young people injured by knives in London was up by 22 per cent in June 2015 but has been steadily decreasing, with 37 fewer victims compared with the previous 12 months, according to the Met.

During previous Sceptre operations more than 3,700 weapon sweeps have been conducted, more 800 weapons seized and more 1,500 people have been arrested, including 243 for possessing a knife or offensive weapon.

In the last 12 months officers from the Trident team and local police gang crime units have made almost 16,000 arrests, seized 771 firearms and taken more than 3,377 knives have been taken off the street.

There are a number of knife bins available across London, to find one visit www.met.police.uk/stopknifecrimenow

Anyone with information about someone carrying a knife is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.