Operation Blunt - the Met's response to knife crime - was launched at the end of last year with the objectives of reducing knife-enabled crime and reducing the number of people, particularly teenagers, who routinely carry knives which carries a maximum sentence of 2 years in prison.

Surrender bins were placed outside police stations across the boroughs for members of the public to deposit knives. Now the end of the campaign the contents have all been destroyed.

Throughout the operation local Police took positive action charging any person found with a knife for an unlawful purpose. Officers also made use of their powers to stop and search any person they reasonably suspected to be carrying a knife, bladed or pointed instrument.

The campaign has resulted in 100s of arrests and the recovery and surrender of over 2,000 knives across London.

Commander Alf Hitchcock, of the Metropolitan Police and in overall charge of Operation Blunt said "We are supporting the National Knife Amnesty with a range of proactive enforcement operations and prevention and education initiatives. We are working extremely hard with schools and colleges to raise awareness about the dangers of carrying knives.

“There is a common assumption, particularly with the young, that everyone is walking around with a knife in their back pocket. A recent search arch operation at a school in Ealing revealed that none of the kids checked had a knife on them. This demonstrates the reality that very few people actually carry knives and so young people should not feel they have to carry one to protect themselves.”

He continued, “So far I am satisfied with how Operation Blunt has progressed. However we are still at an early stage and much of our prevention work with children and teenagers will not become apparent for sometime.”

August 10, 2006