A McDonald's in Croydon has become the latest restaurant to introduce a knife arch metal detector as part of a crackdown on violent crime.

The metal detector is positioned next to the ordering screens in the Church Street venues and is part of an initiative by Croydon Town Centre police and McDonald's to make the area a more welcoming place.

Police have stated that it will be down to McDonald’s to decide how the arch is enforced.

Other metal detectors have been spotted across London, including outside of Crystal Palace station and at Hayes and Harlington station in West London.

The crackdown on violent crime, which is being spearheaded by Operation Cleveland, launched in February 2021 following a weekend of horror when eight people were stabbed and one young man was killed in South London.

Lavaun Witter, 22, of Peckham, was stabbed to death outside a block of flats on Wisbeach Road in Croydon on February 5 2021.

Overall, these measures are part of a wider effort to create a safe and secure environment for all people in Croydon and London.

A spokesperson for Croydon Town Centre police said: "Officers on Operation Cleveland were working in conjunction with McDonald's, Church Street yesterday afternoon supported by a metal detector to aid in the issues seen in the area.

“McDonald's say the 'knife arch' is part of an initiative to make Croydon "a more welcoming place for everyone".

Attributable to a McDonald’s spokesperson: “At McDonald’s we want to be a good neighbour in the communities we serve.

“We have a strong working relationship with the local police in Croydon and our restaurants support them with a number of initiatives to tackle issues and make Croydon a more welcoming place for everyone”