Met Police to increase use of stop-and-search powers over London stabbings

Met Commissioner Cressida Dick has given her backing to officers to deploy the Section 60 power where there is intelligence gangs are engaged in violence.

Scotland Yard is to make more use of a controversial stop-and-search power to curb tit-for-tat gang feuds fuelling a surge in violence which has seen 55 murders in London this year.

The tactic - which allows an officer to stop someone without needing “reasonable suspicion” they are involved in a crime - was criticised by Theresa May in 2014 for damaging community relations.

Today Ms Dick, speaking as police battle a surge in gun and knife violence in London, told the Standard she was concerned use of the power had fallen in recent years. 

She said: “I think it can provide protection particularly when you have gangs in tit-for-tat activity. If they see a lot of police officers out on the street it definitely suppresses problems.”

The Commissioner’s comments came as violence continued across the capital with six more teenagers, including a 13-year-old boy, wounded in five separate knife attacks in just over 90 minutes. 

Ms Dick announced yesterday that a new task force of 120 officers would tackle the surge in violence and officers would use Al Capone tactics to target violent offenders “for any crime."

Martin Griffiths, the lead trauma surgeon at the Royal London Hospital in east London, tweeted this morning: “Tired after another brutal night managing stabbed children.

"Proud to serve my community in this amazing unit, but wondering how many children have to die before we stop squabbling and invest in youth.”