MORE THAN 40 people were stopped and searched by police in Southampton on Wednesday night during an operation aimed at preventing violence from breaking out.

Officers in Swaythling were handed what is known as "section 60" authorisation, which gave them to power to stop anyone and check to see if they were carrying offensive weapons.

No weapons were found but police say the use of Section 60 "prevented incidents of serious disorder from occurring".

It follows two incidents of serious violence in the Mansbridge area on June 10 and 11.

A police spokesman said: "On June 10 at 4.15pm we received a report that a group of young people were carrying weapons engaging in a large scale public order incident on Monks Way.

"On June 11 between 3.30pm and 4pm two groups of young people were seen to be chasing each other near Cantell School carrying planks of wood.

"Section 60 can be implemented in areas where either serious violence has occurred or police believe serious violence is about to occur and gives officers the power to stop and search anyone in a designated location, looking for offensive weapons or bladed articles.

"Last night officers stop checked 42 people in the area and arrested a 16-year-old boy from Southampton on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and violent disorder in connection with the incident on June 10.

"He has been released from police custody but remains under investigation.

"No weapons were found during the searches last night, however the section 60 did prevent any further incidents of serious disorder from occurring.

"The section 60 is no longer in place, however officers will continue to be in the area today and are working with local schools also during this time to speak to young people in the area."

Chief Inspector Phil Lamb added: “This was a successful and proportionate use of the section 60 power.

"There is a very high threshold for section 60 to be implemented and the incidents in Mansbridge in the days previous warranted this tactic.

"We received several calls from concerned residents about the incidents and our response was a robust one. This power is used to keep communities safe and last night we achieved that.

“Support from the community in anything that we do is incredibly valuable and using these powers is an example of how we want to and will respond to public concern.

"Reducing most serious violence is a priority for Southampton and we will continue to try and ensure communities are protected from crime disorder.”