Woolwich stabbing victim's father backs stop and search

Cliff Marcus, whose 22-year-old son Leo was fatally stabbed in Woolwich in 2019, has stated that stop and search is an essential police tactic for reducing knife crime. Leo Marcus died during a robbery attempt. Mr Marcus believes that stricter minimum sentencing for carrying knives is also necessary.

He told the Press Association that stop and search is crucial for preventing young people from carrying knives, stating: “If you carry it, you’re going to use it. It’s not for protection.” He added that many young people carrying weapons do not understand the consequences of their actions.

Police Operations and Results

Last year, Metropolitan Police officers recovered approximately 3,800 weapons and made 27,800 drug seizures through stop-and-search activities across London. The force described stop and search as one of its most effective tools for preventing violence and detecting crime.

In August, a three-day surge operation targeting serious youth violence, with a specific focus on knife carrying, involved 114 stop and searches. This operation led to 14 arrests, including six for possession of an offensive weapon, one of which was for a Taser. Officers conducted targeted activity in Lewisham, Greenwich, and Bexley, utilising crime data to identify high-risk areas.

Further targeted activity over nine days in July resulted in 317 stop and searches, leading to 30 arrests and the recovery of 16 weapons. Footage released by the Metropolitan Police showed officers finding large knives on individuals during searches.

Knife Crime Reduction

The Metropolitan Police reported that knife-enabled crime across London decreased by 14.9% in the 2025/26 financial year when compared to the previous year. This reduction included a 21% decrease in knife-enabled robbery and an 8.4% fall in offences where a knife was used to cause injury.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Sanderson commented that social media provides easy access to weapons like knives. He stated that stop and search is an effective tool that removes weapons from the streets, potentially saving lives. Sanderson also emphasised the importance of officers educating individuals on the reasons for their stop and the impact of knife crime.