Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has joined police on a weapons sweep amid renewed concern over violent crime.

He was with officers in Thorton Heath, south London, on Wednesday morning, as they moved towards nearby Croydon town centre, scouring the area for hidden weapons.

London Crime
Police officers carry out a weapons sweep in Thornton Heath, south London (Jonathan Brady/PA)

The operation came after Mr Khan hosted a cross-party summit on violent crime at City Hall on Tuesday, attended by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick and Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

Fears are growing over a recent spate of bloodshed in London where there have been more than 50 murders since the beginning of the year.

The Government has laid out a 114-page strategy to make Britain’s streets safe, including detailed sections on a range of possible factors including
the emergence of social media and changes in the drugs market.

But ministers came under fire after it emerged that the review contained no analysis of any impact from reductions in the number of police officers.