Police are concentrating more resources on Facebook and other social networking sites in a bid to crack down on youth violence.

Lambeth police have been spending more time looking at the internet and other new methods of communication among young people, to try to anticipate possible gang-related activity.

It is part of an ongoing campaign by cops in the borough to stamp out youth violence – in light of the fatal stabbing of 15-year-old Zac Olumegbon, as he arrived outside the Park Campus in West Norwood in May.

Police continue to run increased patrols outside Lambeth secondary schools to prevent them becoming focal points for further attacks.

Operation Prevent has seen continued before-and-after school patrols taking place as pupils returned this month after the summer holidays.

Nearly every secondary school is covered twice a day, every day, despite the demand on resources – with most officers being tasked from safer neighbourhood teams.

Borough commander Chief Superintendent Nick Ephgrave said: “It is working.

We have seen a reduction in serious youth violence as a result.”

However, police are still battling an increased level of youth violence compared with last year.

There was a surge in youth violence on the weekend of September 10, prompting police to put a Section 60 order in place, which gives officers stronger stop-and-search powers.

A Section 60 also means police can order people to remove clothing that could hide their identity, such as hoodies.

It followed a suspected gang-related shooting in Tulse Hill on Friday, September 10, when a teenager was shot point-blank in the face by a gunman on a bicycle as he tried to board a bus in Norwood Road, by the junction of Christchurch Road.

The injuries he sustained where not life-threatening.

Chief Supt Ephgrave said he was hopeful the rate of youth violence could drop by the end of the financial year.