Cops have made over 200 arrests during the half-term school holiday in the fight against youth disorder and knife crime.

Operation Autumn Chicago was backed up with over 70 officers in the week leading up to Halloween with knife arches and drug  dogs.

Police targeted major stations like Clapham Junction, Lewisham, Elephant and Castle, Wimbledon, and East Croydon - nicking youths for drug offences, public order breaches, theft and possession of offensive weapons.

Only eight weapons were recovered during the operation, British Transport Police say this shows knife arches are working as a deterrent.

Youths showed pictures of stabbings

In another tactic The Ambulance Service were showing young people the consequences of knife attacks and offering advice on first aid for stab injuries.

Superintendent Martin Fry said the mobile scanning devices had played a major part in helping reduce crime on the rail network since their introduction in early 2006.

"We have been focusing for some time on reducing the carriage of weapons on the network. The arches are very effective and have helped ensure the railways are a no-go area for offensive weapons."
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