GANG police will step up searches across the capital during the half-term week.

Areas where knife crime has been a problem will be visited and individuals known to carry knives will be targeted.

Local Safer Neighbourhoods Teams, specialist officers from the Territorial Support Group and Trident Gang Crime Command will be visible, conducting high visibility patrols on estates in London.

Officers from Roads and Transport Policing Command will be visible at transport hubs using knife wands to catch and deter those carrying knives on public transport.

ANPR operations will be carried out in hotspot areas for knife crime, to capture people involved in knife crime in cars.

On Saturday (October 24) another knife was taken off the streets on Waltham Forest in Hale End after being found by officers.

The following day two men were arrested in Chapel End ward, both carrying large knives.

Detective Chief Superintendent Kevin Southworth, currently heading up the Trident Gang Crime Command, said: "Our summer operation had a significant impact, with more than 900 knives recovered during a period of weeks and over 270 arrests.

“For this reason we are running a second tranche to coincide with half term, where we will again be looking to reduce the number of knives in circulation, taking them out of the hands of those individuals intent on using them.”

The types of knives being seized by officers on the streets of London are broad and varied, ranging from hunting knives and flick knives to those you would expect to find in the kitchen of any home.