Hundreds of additional police officers have been deployed on the streets of London this weekend in areas of the capital worst affected by the spike in violent crime.

It comes as Mayor of London Sadiq Khan promised more arrests and backed increasing the use of intelligence-led stop and search by police, insisting keeping Londoners safe is his “top priority”.

Mr Khan has also invited Home Secretary Amber Rudd and London MPs to a summit at City Hall next week to discuss new measures for tackling the violence. 

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick has insisted the force has “not lost control” of the capital’s streets, but acknowledged the escalation of violence was “very worrying”.

The rising wave of knife crime saw six stabbings in 90 minutes in the capital on Thursday, with a 13-year-old left fighting for his life after an attack in Newham, east London. Three teenage boys, a 13-year-old and two 16-year-olds, have been charged over the incident.