Burrell detective to head 75-strong knife crime squad

A senior detective who once led the ill-fated inquiry into former royal butler Paul Burrell is to head a task force tackling London's gang and knife crime epidemic.

Commander Maxine de Brunner is in charge of a 75-strong police squad to strengthen the Met's drive against youths carrying knives.

Ms de Brunner led the investigation into claims that Mr Burrell stole hundreds of items worth £4.5 million from Princess Diana's estate. His Old Bailey trial folded in 2002.

The anti-knife squad was announced today by deputy commissioner Paul Stephenson after the success of a Met anti-knife initiative. More than 1,200 young people were arrested and 27,000 searches carried out as part of the sixweek Operation Blunt 2.

Today Mr Stephenson told a meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority: "Clearly the message is not getting through." He added the task-force would be dispatched to boroughs across London when necessary.

Senior officers have also been asked to review operations in an attempt to divert more resources to tackle knife crime.

Mr Stephenson said: "This reflects that tackling knife crime is the number one priority for the Met at this time."