THE Metropolitan Police have launched an operation to target serious youth violence in the East End.

The hard-hitting initiative, codenamed Operation Armour, aims to combat levels of violence and disorder among young people as well as tackling the use of guns on the streets.

The intelligence-led operation has been introduced in Tower Hamlets and five other east London boroughs - Waltham Forest, Newham, Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge and Havering.

Officers from the boroughs have joined forces with the Territorial Support Group and Specialist Crime Directorate and are focusing on known young offenders who have committed crimes across the boroughs.

Detective Chief Inspector Bernie Galopin, who is coordinating Operation Armour, said: “This operation is designed to combat the criminal networks that operate cross border in east London. Their activities put the lives of vulnerable young people at risk every day and can tear local communities apart.

“The majority of young people in east London are valued members of society but a small minority choose a life of violence that blights the lives of their own families and those that live around them.

“Operation Armour demonstrates that local communities, councils and the police will not tolerate serious youth violence or the use of firearms on our streets. We will use every resource and tool available to us to track down these criminals and bring them to justice.

“Our message is that there remains an alternative to gang involvement and with the support and help of the wider community we can combat violence and look to a more peaceful future.”