A new Croydon police unit founded after a spate of gang attacks in south London aims to have the problem under control in a year.

Speaking at the launch of the new Gang Focus Desk, Detective Superintendent Ian Smith said the unit was in its "embryonic stages" but that in 12 months time he was aiming for a "finished, working product".

He added: "We want to be able to take it to the centre of London and use it as a template."

The Gang Focus Desk will work with authorities in Orpington, Lambeth, Wandsworth and Merton. Intelligence will be shared across boroughs, although the management of the unit will be led by Croydon.

"It is a communication that we never had before," said Det Supt Smith.

Despite his belief the new unit would make a difference, he said he was not complacent about the scale of the problem. "It is a massive challenge. We're having to change the whole mindset of children," he added.

Detective Inspector Jacquie Hands, who will head the unit at South Norwood Police Station, added: "I hope over the next year some long term solutions will be in place. We aim to prevent gang culture from developing further. There's an awful lot of work to be done but there's an awful lot of potential."

Since the start of the new year, seven young people aged under 16 have been killed in London - all were linked to teenage gangs.

Last month a teenager was stabbed in the head in the centre of Croydon while in November, Thornton Heath youngster Eugene Attram died after a clash between youths in Mitcham.

In the past police officers have questioned the severity of gang related issues but Det Supt Smith admitted they were a problem.

"Metropolitan police are experiencing the emergence of a gang culture. It is a problem. Here at Croydon we also have an emergence of gang culture. I'd like to think we're in control of it," he said.

According to Det Supt Smith and his colleagues, the key to the success of the new unit will be understanding the issues behind gang crime and the reasons why young people get into gangs.

"In the last nine months we've had sporadic outbreaks of youth disorder. We're really trying to get to grips with it and understand it. We will gather intelligence to build up a composite study of gangs - find out who they are affiliated to," he said.

The gang focus desk will be able to call on officers from the priority crime unit for support and police safer neighbourhood teams will also work with schools. CCTV will also play a crucial role in the unit's success.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Morgan said: "Often people are not willing to come forward as victims or witnesses but with CCTV, it is another area of evidence which will enable us to proceed with charges."

It is hoped the unit will be fully established by the start of the school summer holidays. "We want to leave a legacy for Croydon," said Det Supt Smith.

If you have any information for the gang unit call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.