Police will be carrying out stop and searches in the Shadwell area overnight due to “anticipated violence”.

The authorisation, under section 60 of the criminal justice and public order act 1994, gives officers the right to search people in a defined area during a specific time period when they believe that serious violence will take place or that a person is carrying a weapon.

The order covers the whole E1 postcode area, including Wapping, Whitechapel and Stepney, and will last until 7am tomorrow.

Tower Hamlets Police tweeted that the order “is due to anticipated violence following recent incidents, to increase public safety, and allows officers to stop and search where appropriate”.

It comes after a night of violence in Shadwell on Saturday that saw three people stabbed and police seize acid and use tasers.

In another incident in the early hours of Monday, a man was assaulted with a knife by people in a silver vehicle.

John Biggs, mayor of Tower Hamlets said: “We are working closely with the police and our partners to maximise our resources in tackling violence in the borough.

“There is no place for knife crime in Tower Hamlets. We will continue to do everything we can to protect our communities.”

DCI Mike Hamer added: “We are aware of community concern regarding the two incidents in Shadwell over the weekend.

“We have made a number of arrests in connection with these already and will be providing a high visibility presence in the area this evening and in the coming days. This is to carry out stop and search activity and to provide reassurance to the community.”