Knife arches will become a more familiar sight in the West End as police step up the blitz on blades.
Revellers visiting nighttime hubs such as Soho also face being stopped and searched by plain-clothes officers using “surprise” tactics aimed at catching thugs.
Scotland Yard said portable metal detectors will “pop up” everywhere at weekends as thousands flock to bars and restaurants in central London.
Westminster Chief Inspector Andy Brittain said the Met was “trying to pick up the pace” to combat knife crime.
“It’s a significant problem around Soho, with a huge population and night-time economy which generates a fair bit of crime,” he told the Standard.
“With knife arches what we’re looking for is not so much people who trigger the arch’s metal detector. It’s actually the people who see the arch and walk the other way, or who discard something as soon as they see it. “
Ch Insp Brittain said the knife archway operations will be ramped up and will continue in central London over coming months.
He added: “Until we get knife crime under control we will keep popping up all over Westminster with these operations.”
Last night officers deployed a knife arch in Walker’s Court and asked pedestrians to pass through it as they used the narrow alleyway.
No weapons were detected but three people were found carrying class A and B drugs. One suspect was arrested and taken into custody.
Westminster is among the worst-hit boroughs in London for knife offences with 922 recorded in the 12 months to January 2019, City Hall figures show.
Ch Insp Brittain, who has 25 years experience, said police needed to work harder to educate parents about the warnings signs of children being lured into gangs.
He added: “Gangs have become a replacement family and once they’re in it’s very difficult to get out.”
“A massive multi-agency approach is needed to solve this, but schools and families have a key part to play.”
