More weapons found in police ‘sweeps’ on Bethnal Green and Mile End housing estates

Police have uncovered more hidden weapons during ‘sweeps’ in east London when they returned to search two housing estates in Bethnal Green and Mile End.

Officer searches for weapons that could be hidden in bushes on Mile End's Bancroft Estate. Picture source: Met Police - Credit: MPS

Patrols went back to the Cranbrook Estate off Roman Road and to Mile End’s Bancroft Estate for the second time in six months.

They discovered weapons hidden next to the wooden cladding of a footpath in Grand Junction Walk and Pigment Square near the Regent’s Canal.

More knives were found hidden in bushes at Bancroft in the second sweep there in six months.

The pilot series of sweeps kicked off there in July with an initial success when officers retrieved a deadly 10ins zombie knife taped to the back of an electric cable junction box.

10ins knife discovered on a previous weapons sweep. Picture: Mike Brooke - Credit: Mike Brooke

Officers from the Met’s Tower Hamlets gang unit at Bethnal Green began the scheme last summer with community faith leaders from synagogues, churches and mosques invited to join the first of a series of regular searches.

The community-based ‘flash’ searches started in the East End have since been tested across London.