Yard draws up 'Minority Report' profiles of 100 most dangerous

Criminal profilers are drawing up a target list of 100 of London's most dangerous men.

They are targeting potential killers and rapists in an effort to identify them before they commit a serious crime.

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Experts are examining the criminal histories of thousands of violent men across the capital to pinpoint those they suspect could become killers or rapists.

They hope they will be able to predict patterns of behaviour which could identify a future murderer such as the Soham killer Ian Huntley.

The database is being compiled by analysts from Scotland Yard's Homicide Prevention Unit.

The initiative will draw comparisons with the Hollywood film Minority Report, in which suspects are locked up before they can commit a crime.

Laura Richards, head of analysis at the Homicide Prevention Unit, said: "My vision is is that we know across London who the top 100 people are. We need to know who we are targeting. It is trying to pick up Ian Huntley before he goes out and commits that murder."

Efforts to identify killers and rapists before they struck were first launched by the Met several years ago. Police set up three squads across London to track down potential killers but the scheme was disbanded last year in a reorganisation of murder probes. The latest initiative comes after a series of horrific murders in London.

These included the killing of financier John Monckton in his Chelsea home and the stabbing to death of Chiswick teacher Robert Symons after he confronted a burglar. In both cases the killers had a history of violence.

The new scheme is being piloted across five London boroughs, with information being gathered from domestic violence databases, mental health workers and details of past complaints.

Analysts are also establishing a list of the capital's most dangerous neighbourhoods, including "hotspots" such as particular streets or pubs.