WALTHAM FOREST: Hundreds of arrests during youth violence crackdown

2:20pm Friday 29th February 2008

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A POLICE crackdown on serious youth violence and criminal gangs during the half-term school holiday led to over 780 arrests.

Operation Kartel, which ran in 11 London boroughs including Waltham Forest, resulted in a 50 per cent fall in gun crime and 26 per cent fall in knife offences, police say.

Known offenders were targeted and 117 weapons, including 43 firearms and 74 other offensive weapons, were seized.

A total of 159 properties were also searched, leading to £32,000 and drugs being seized.

The number of robberies also fell during the two-week operation, with a reduction of 542 offences in the 11 boroughs compared to the same period last year.

Special assemblies were also held in schools, warning children of the dangers of getting involved in crime.

Commander Sean Sawyer of the Violent Crime Directorate said: "This operation is the next phase of a co-ordinated approach to tackling serious youth violence.

"We are determined to build on this success, and will continue to develop methods over the coming months and into the summer in order to reduce the number of offences committed across London. "