Deadly weapons seized in East End in police drugs swoop near Victoria Park

A haul of lethal weapons has been uncovered in London’s East End during a drugs sweep in a secluded cul-de-sac near Victoria Park, it has emerged.

Officers carried out a drugs and weapons sweep around Hawthorne Avenue in Old Ford on Monday, including a children’s playground.

They found three large knives, a broken baseball bat, bike parts adapted as weapons and a heavy padlock on a chain, all hidden away for criminal use later.

“Some criminals don’t want to be caught in possession of weapons—so they hide them in a public place until they’re needed,” Pc Lee Stevens said.

“But this creates an obvious risk to the public, especially children in playgrounds who may come across them by mistake.”

The weapons are now being forensically tested to help identify offenders.

The operation by the Met’s Bow West neighbourhood team followed a tip-off from families worried about street gang crime and anti-social activity in the area.