Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, makes a statement on the Deptford bus arrests:
"I congratulate the police on their swift action to arrest this group and prevent violence before it could take place. I fully support the tough stance being taken against the small minority of violent young criminals. However, we should not imagine that every young person is a violent thug. Most violent crime is committed by adults not young people. Most young people in Lewisham make a positive contribution to our communities."
"What is worrying is that even amongst the majority of youngsters with no intention of causing trouble there is a mistaken belief that carrying a weapon makes you safe. The tragic truth is that it makes our young people more vulnerable as well as putting them at risk of being gaoled if caught and convicted for carrying a blade. As a Council we are working closely with the police and community to educate and protect our young people from violence."