Police patrols tackle rail crime

Knife crime and anti-social behaviour will be targeted

Police patrols are to this week target key locations in south London in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour, drug taking, and knife carrying on trains.

The British Transport Police (BTP) will deploy 70 officers in the crackdown, called Operation Chicago 2.

Officers will be at key interchange locations across the south of the city.

The first phase of the operation in the first few weeks of the summer holidays has resulted in 120 arrests and six weapons being seized.

As well as officers, the police teams will also use drug detecting dogs and BTP's mobile metal detecting arches.

The key aim is to disrupt criminal elements by targeting major interchanges and key locations during the summer holidays.

It is also hoped the actions will offer reassurance to law-abiding passengers who use rail services.

BTP says the holiday period historically sees high levels of offences including provocation of violence, drunk and disorderly behaviour, unacceptable behaviour and other low-level disorder offences are high.