Four teenagers were stabbed and four arrested in the span of three days in Croydon.
The first incident took place in front of the Nando’s on Croydon High Street on March 18, when a teenager was stabbed at around 3 pm. Investigations are continuing.
The rest of the violent incidents took place on March 20, with stabbings across two locations in Croydon Town Centre.
Police received a report of an 18-year-old man being stabbed on Elmwood Road just after 4 pm. The man was taken to the hospital in a critical but stable condition.
Two men were arrested in this investigation, both 18 years old.
Just over an hour later, police responded to another call about a fight between groups on Church Street at 5:25 pm.
Two 13-year-old boys were reportedly stabbed and taken to hospital after a fight broke out within a large group of youths.
Their injuries were not thought to be life-threatening. Croydon Police arrested two boys, aged 13 and 14, as part of the investigation.
Following each incident, the police applied for a Section 60, giving them additional stop and search powers.
Superintendent Mitch Carr appealed to the public for any information that could assist the course of the investigations.
Stats from January and February of 2023 show that Croydon has the highest number of violent offences, including knife crime, recorded across all London boroughs.