POLICE handed out eight cannabis warnings, arrested six people and found a knife during a six-hour stop and search operation in Bromley.

Seventy officers stopped and searched 210 people at Bromley South and Shortlands train stations between 3.30pm and 10pm on Friday (Nov 21).

A man was arrested in connection with a serious sexual assault, with other arrests made for theft, disorderly conduct, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of cocaine.

Two men were given cautions for possessing cocaine and a 23-year-old man was given a fixed penalty notice for behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

A 20-year-old man from Thamesmead, arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, has been bailed to return to police on January 12 next year.

A 31-year-old woman from St Paul's Cray, arrested for theft, was bailed to return to police on December 30.

Russell Higgins, aged 31, of St Johns Road, Sidcup, has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon and bailed to attend Bromley Magistrates’ Court on December 2.

Bromley police Sergeant Daren Metcalf said: “The operation went well and had a significant impact on the community.

“The feedback from commuters was very positive and our presence provided a real level of reassurance.”

Cannabis warnings are given to anyone caught with the drug for the first time. They face arrest if found with cannabis again.

There have been 264 cannabis warning forms issued in the Bromley borough between April 1 and November 9.

For the same period in Lewisham 1,051 forms have been handed out, compared with 1,119 in Croydon, 744 in Greenwich and 1,901 in Southwark.

In Westminster 1,954 forms have been issued - more than any other London borough.