A gang up to 25 youths – including some who were thought to be armed – fought with each other in the street last night.
The young men clashed in Maynard Road, Highfields, Leicester but scattered and threw away their weapons before police arrived.
Police recovered a number of discarded weapons when they arrived at the scene.
A senior officer authorised the use of special powers of stop and search under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.
The power, which was authorised at 11.20pm, allows officers to search anyone in a specified area for weapons.
Two young men were searched but were not found to be in possession of anything illegal. The powers were lifted at 7am today.
No injuries have been reported to the police.
The Section 60 power to stop and search was revoked at 7am. No one has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Local officers will be speaking to residnts and staging "reassurance" patrols over the weekend.
Contact Leicestershire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.
