Met Police charge 238 after week-long crackdown in Lambeth and Southwark
Operation seizes 38 weapons and reduces knife crime by 18% across the two boroughs over the past year
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Metropolitan Police charged 238 people after a week-long operation targeting gang violence in Lambeth and Southwark. The crackdown, which concluded on 29 July 2026, resulted in 297 arrests for offences including possession of dangerous weapons, drug supply, and attempted murder.
The operation, led by Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond, was launched in response to rising gang-related tensions and high-profile violent incidents in the area. Officers executed warrants, conducted stop and searches, and deployed plainclothes and firearms units to disrupt organised crime networks.
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Weapons seized and crime trends
Police seized 38 weapons during the operation, including knives and firearms. Officers carried out 13 weapons sweeps and 233 stop and searches, which led to 40 arrests. The Metropolitan Police said the operation contributed to an 18% reduction in knife crime across Lambeth and Southwark over the past year.
Over the past 18 months, the number of the most serious violent offences in London has fallen by almost 20%. Lethal gunshot victims have decreased by 27%, and homicides remain at their lowest recorded per capita rate of 1.1 per 100,000 people.
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Those driving serious violence across London should be under no illusion. We are targeting them relentlessly, and we will use every power available to take weapons, drugs and dangerous offenders off our streets.
Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond, Metropolitan Police
Arrests and investigations
Among those arrested was a man stopped on Somerleyton Road in Brixton. Officers detained him after he was seen riding a moped at speed. During a search, he fled, discarding a bag containing Class A drugs. He was later arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply and grievous bodily harm after assaulting an officer with a crowbar. He has been released on bail pending further enquiries.
On 29 July 2026, officers from the Territorial Support Group raided two properties linked to known gang members. Two men were arrested for possession with intent to supply Class B drugs, and one was also charged with possession of an offensive weapon. Both have been bailed pending further investigations.
A man suspected of assisting offenders in a gang-related shooting in Tower Hamlets on 21 April 2026 was arrested in Brixton on 28 July 2026. He is accused of helping to remove incriminating evidence from a suspect’s flat. He has been bailed while enquiries continue.
The prime suspect in a stabbing on Albert Way in Southwark on 28 July 2026 was arrested the same day on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. He has been released on bail pending further police enquiries.
What happens next
The Metropolitan Police said the operation is part of an ongoing campaign to reduce violence in London. Residents can report concerns or information about crime via the police website or by calling 101. The force has not confirmed whether similar operations will take place in other boroughs.
Questions this report answers
+How many people were arrested during the operation?
Metropolitan Police arrested 297 people during the week-long operation in Lambeth and Southwark. Of these, 238 were charged with offences including possession of weapons, drug supply, and attempted murder.
+What weapons were seized by police?
Police seized 38 dangerous weapons, including knives and firearms. The seizures followed 13 weapons sweeps and 233 stop and searches conducted during the operation.
+Has knife crime fallen in Lambeth and Southwark?
Yes, knife crime has fallen by 18% across Lambeth and Southwark over the past year. The Metropolitan Police attributed the reduction to sustained enforcement and community efforts.
+What happens next after the arrests?
Those arrested are either charged, bailed pending further enquiries, or released. The Metropolitan Police said the operation is part of an ongoing campaign to reduce violence and urged residents to report concerns.
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