TRANSPORT police arrested 76 people during a half-term operation at Lewisham station.

Lewisham was one of six south London transport hubs targeted during a week-long crackdown on youth disorder and knife carrying on trains.

Operation Autumn Chicago saw British Transport Police officers use metal detecting arches and dogs trained to find drugs, at key transport hubs.

At Lewisham station BTP officers stopped and searched 592 people and 296 people passed through a metal detection arch.

Of the 76 people arrested or cautioned, six were wanted on existing warrants and two were carrying an offensive weapon.

The remainder were for offences including fare evasion, possession of drugs, theft and public order.

BTP Superintendent Martin Fry said: “Our key aims were to disrupt criminal elements and deter disorder by targeting transport interchanges during the half-term school holiday and to create a safer environment for people travelling and working on the railways.”

He added: “We have been focusing for some time on reducing the carriage of weapons on the network. The arches are very effective and have helped ensure the railways are a no-go area for offensive weapons.”

During the week long operation there were 203 arrests and eight weapons seized across south London.