A seventeen-year-old boy has confessed to possessing a knife after being stopped and searched in Southwark.
The teen, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to possessing a knife at Bexley Magistrates’ Court today, (October 9).
He was referred to a Youth Offender Panel for six months, and ordered to pay £22 as a victim surcharge. Those referred to the panel are typically first-time offenders.
The youngster was stopped-and-searched by police in Southwark yesterday, who found a knife hidden in his shoes.
Inspector Paul Howlett, from the Violence Suppression Unit in Southwark and Lambeth, said: “Our officers are out every day conducting patrols and other proactive activity to target our top priority – violent crime.
“This incident shows how valuable stop and search is as a tactic for removing weapons off the streets – this knife could have been used to cause harm to someone had we not seized it.
“We will continue to use all of the tactics available to us to suppress violent crime in the area.”