A “suicidal youth” armed with a knife was saved from a ledge of intu Bromley shopping centre car park yesterday.

Police were called to the scene at 3.45pm on Thursday October 2 to reports of a male sitting on the edge of the building.

Officers say they found a 17-year-old “sitting over the ledge, waving a knife around, and refusing to come down”.

Bromley police’s deputy borough commander Parm Sandhu said the teenager threatened security staff at intu Bromley, also “intimating he was going to commit suicide”.

After clearing the pavement below, Sergeant Brett Smethurst and Inspector Paul Power led a response team and spent around 15 minutes attempting to persuade the boy to come down.

But police say he did not communicate so along with two other officers restrained him - “despite him struggling violently”.

Deputy borough commander Sandhu praised the courage of his force and said in a statement: "Our officers are asked to perform incredible tasks that are extremely demanding on a daily basis.

“I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all the officers involved for the bravery shown in safely detaining this youth.

“Officers took the decision to grab him to prevent him jumping or falling, wrestled him to the floor and took him to Bromley police station. Throughout he has been extremely violent toward my officers.”

The boy was arrested on suspicion of affray and possession of an offence weapon. He was later found in possession of a suspected stolen bank card and arrested for theft.

He has now been taken to a south London hospital for assessment.