With crime running rife in the Mexico City barrio of Tepito Police have decided on a change of tactic to tackle crime. They've decided to offer residents game consoles and PCs in exchange for guns.

The neighbourhood, known as La Fortaleza (the fortress), is a densly packed maze of streets, markets and tenements which is widely seen as a drug distribution centre, and a huge police operation took place there last month.

In the initiative a small gun can be swapped for either cash or an Xbox console. High-calibre weapons such as machine guns can be exchanged for a PC worth 8500 pesos (£390).

All guns received will be destroyed by the army in the program that promises anonymity. A police spokesperson reported that on March 27, the first day of the scheme, 17 guns were handed in.