£1m knife crime blitz 'to continue'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner said the capital "just cannot go on" with a youngster murdered, on average, every 10 days this year.

More than 4,000 people have been stopped by police using portable metal detector arches and wielding hand-held scanners.

They have arrested 210 people and confiscated 193 weapons, ranging from small craft blades to six inch kitchen knives.

But the controversial move of conducting hundreds of extra stop and searches was already coming under fire just two weeks into the operation.

Some officers were criticised for endangering community support and potentially provoking confrontation by being rude and aggressive.

Members of the Police Authority, the force watchdog, questioned how long wide-ranging section 60 powers to stop without suspicion could be used.

Jenny Jones, a Green London Assembly member, said there is little justification for extra searches when new figures show violent crime is falling.

She said: "How does Operation Blunt and the extending of stop and search fit in with falling knife crime figures? How can you justify a long-term section 60 operation on the streets of London when all the crime figures are falling?

"We have heard that one negative experience for a young person can result in a permanent negative experience with the police."