The knife seized in a school, which a 14-year-old had concealed in his bag (Image: Archant)
More than 11 knives a week were taken off Hackney’s streets last year by police through stop and search and weapon sweeps.
A total of 585 blades were confiscated throughout 2016, the borough’s cops have revealed.
They say it has helped bring knife crime down 13 per cent overall and by 16pc for under 25s, from 86 at the end of September 2015 to 72 in 2016.
But as reported in the Gazette in November, knives seized inside schools soared last term, with the youngest offender just 11.
A 14-year-old pupil spent a night in the cells after being caught hiding a kitchen knife in his bag.
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