Met Police will crackdown on high-harm offenders and criminals involved in firearms offences and shootings this week.

Starting today, (July 26), enhanced weapons sweeps, warrants and overt and covert patrols will be taking place across London to curb violent crime in the Capital.

The week will start with weapon sweeps taking place at locations across all 32 boroughs of London.

The sweeps will predominantly take place in locations where there has been an increase in violent crime.

Detective Superintendent Nick Blackburn, who is leading the week of upsurge, said: "Day in, day out, Met officers work tirelessly to remove dangerous weapons from the streets and protect both London’s residents and visitors to the Capital.

"This week is no different but we are going to be enhancing our resources, focusing on this particular crime type.

"The more work we put into reducing violent crime and arresting dangerous individuals, the safer I hope the summer will be for all of us."

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The Operation Viper patrols will be in response to any shootings, or in response to information, intelligence or tensions arising during the week.

In the first six months of 2021, the Met has seized 248 firearms; of which 151 were handguns, three were machine guns and two sub machine guns.

In 2020 (calendar year), 443 firearms were recovered, an increase of 107 on the previous year (336 firearms recovered in 2019).

The week of upsurge comes days after the sentencing of four men who were sentenced to 42 years' imprisonment after being caught importing six firearms and ammunition into the UK.

Detective Superintendent Blackburn added: "Met officers are really good at finding illegal firearms and making sure we take them out of the grip of criminals.

"This is shown by the increase in seizures we made last year compared with the previous year.

"Although we are making huge strides, we can reduce gun crime far quicker if members of the public provide us with information about where firearms are being stored and who they are being used by.

"If people do not want to report to us [the police], they can report to Crimestoppers, which is 100% anonymous."

Information on how to report a suspected firearms discharge, or to provide information to the police on where firearms are being stored or who is in possession of a weapon can be made via 999 or by tweeting @MetCC.

To contact Crimestoppers call 0800 555 111.