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Teams of officers have already been deploying to trouble hotspots since the launch of Operation Blunt 2 in May. Armed with wands and knife arches, the officers have been carrying out searches using powers under Section 60 of the Public Order Act, which allows them to operate under the presumption of reasonable suspicion.
Earlier in the week Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair announced that 1,214 people were arrested for possession of weapons and other knife-related crimes as part of the operation between May 19 and June 29.
Mr Stephenson said: "Sadly, in recent days two more young people have been stabbed to death. Clearly the message is not getting through.
"To build on the co-ordinated activity already being carried out by all 32 London police borough command units under Blunt 2, we are increasing the police officer strengths in those boroughs most affected with immediate effect with the establishment of a dedicated 75-strong Blunt 2 taskforce.
"This is being drawn from resources across the Met - under the leadership of Commander Maxine de Brunner - to increase the drive against known gang members and their associates. It will also increase our pro-active capability in relation to supporting our search operations.
"In addition, senior officers have been tasked to review all current police operations and to identify whether further officers can be diverted to support the effort locally in areas where the knife problem is causing the most concern. This reflects that tackling knife crime is the number one priority for the Met at this time."
Mr Stephenson said fewer people were being cautioned in relation to knife crime, with 95% of those arres being charged if there was sufficient evidence.
The associated Met Police statement on the taskforce reads;
Deputy Commissioner, Paul Stephenson, made the following statement at today's MPA Co-ordination and Policing Committee meeting, Friday 4 July 2008:
Earlier this week we published statistics showing the progress being made by the Blunt 2 operation, which is clearly making an impact on stopping young people carrying knives.
Some 27,000 people have been searched, leading to 1200 arrests and 500 knives seized. Fewer people are being cautioned as we are now charging 95% of those arrested where there is sufficient evidence.
Sadly, in recent days two more young people have been stabbed to death. Clearly the message is not getting through.
To build on the co-ordinated activity already being carried out by all 32 London police borough commands units under Blunt 2, we are increasing the police officer strengths in those boroughs most affected with immediate effect with the establishment of a dedicated 75-strong Blunt 2 taskforce. This is being drawn from resources across the Met - under the leadership of Commander Maxine de Brunner- to increase the drive against known gang members and their associates. It will also increase our pro-active capability in relation to supporting our search operations.
In addition, senior officers have been tasked to review all current police operations and to identify whether further officers can be diverted to support the effort locally in areas where the knife problem is causing the most concern. This reflects that tackling knife crime is the number one priority for the Met at this time.
We recognise that our actions impact on all of London's young people, the vast majority of whom do not carry knives or have any involvement in gangs. However, we believe we have their support in tackling the scourge of knife crime as was demonstrated by the young people of Islington on Tuesday.
We are really grateful for the support that our officers are getting from the public, community leaders and local authorities across the capital for the tactic of using section 60 powers which have significantly increased the number of young people being stopped and searched.
Our success will be seeing an end to these tragic deaths but we cannot deliver this on our own. Everyone is being affected by what is going on and we all have to work together to get the message across that carrying knives has got to stop.
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