Police stop and search a young man. Pic: Met Police

 After six stabbings in 10 days, Croydon police have said more needs to be done to tackle knife crime in the borough.

The sixth stabbing took place on January 25, when a 21-year-old man received stab wounds to the back in Thornton Heath. Police and paramedics were called to the crime scene at 7.12pm.

 The victim was rushed to the hospital however the injuries were not life threatening.

 This incident follows the stabbing of two teens in the Whitgift Centre on January 14, the stabbing of a 12-year-old boy in Selhust and an 18-year-old in West Croydon on January 20, and the stabbing of a 16-year-old in West Croydon on January 22.

 In light of this series of knife attacks, police have made recommendations to use knife arches in schools in an effort to minimise crime. The metal detecting devices aim to deter pupils from carrying knifes at schools.

 Police are also currently working with schools and councils to get youths involved in productive extracurricular activities, rather than crime.

 Detective Superintendent Simon Messinger told the public that the number of victims of youth violence in Croydon had dropped from 492 to 387 in the past year.

 Messinger said: “Knife crime across the borough has reduced significantly and we are determined to carry this on.”