A man was arrested and a large knife recovered while police were patrolling in Croydon this week.

Officers were carrying out patrols around Thornton Heath and Croydon High Street at around 11:05am on Tuesday (December 29), when they saw a moped with both a rider and pillion passenger acting suspiciously.

The pair were travelling along Brigstock Road and as soon as they noticed the officers they made off at speed.

Officers searched the area for the suspects and found the pillion passenger - a 19-year-old man [A] - a short time after, hiding behind a parked vehicle on Boswell Road.

He was detained, and officers then found a large Rambo-style knife underneath the same car he was hiding behind. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and remains in custody.

PC Butler, from the South Violence Suppression Unit, said:

“Officers are regularly patrolling areas known for violence and robbery to remove dangerous weapons like this off the streets - I hope the local community feel reassured by this knife recovery and our proactivity.

“If anyone has any information about those who are carrying weapons or where weapons are being hidden, please contact us – it could stop someone from being seriously injured or killed.”

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