The head of Croydon CID is to lead a new unit to tackle gang crime.
Detective Inspector Jacquie Hands will run the new unit at South Norwood Police Station with three other officers.
The new unit has been formed after a spate of gang attacks across south London.
Two weeks ago a teenager was stabbed in the head in the centre of Croydon, while six youths have been killed in gang attacks across London since the beginning of the year.
Police believe all of the attacks have links to gang crime and more officers and PCSOs have been deployed to trouble spots.
The new unit will aim to look at the issues behind gang crime and the problems associated with it.
It will be a cross-borough initiative and officers will work closely with other forces - who will also help pay for the new project.
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