It could take up to 10 years/generation to solve violent crimes in London. In the last five days two teenage boys and two men have been stabbed in the city.
There have already been more than 110 murder investigations that have been launched this year;
According to city hall figures, police coverage is at its lowest rate in 20 years. There are 3.3 police officers for every thousand Londoners. This is 19% below the 2010 figures.
Children as young as primary school age are now carrying knives, said the Mayor (Sadiq Khan).
He added: “They saw in Scotland what we’re seeing in London which is children in primary school thinking not only is it OK to carry a knife, but it gives them a sense of belonging, joining a criminal gang, it makes them feel safer.
“We have to be tough in relation to enforcement. But we have to give young people constructive things to do, investing in youth centre, youth workers and after school clubs.
“We need to use all resources we at our disposal we can to address this horror.”
Mrs Victoria Atkin, Home Office crime minister, said the home office are taking a “wrap around approach” to talking violent crime.
Mrs Atkins said “Gangs are far more ruthless than they used to be. The level of violence doctors are seeing in A and E [means] that incidents that would not have previously resulted in fatalities are now resulting in fatalities”
“The gang leaders are using social media to communicate. The heads of theses gangs are exploiting these children to run their drugs around the streets of London and across the country. They are using mobile communications in a way that was not possible ten or even five years ago.”
Mrs Atkins has also stated that drugs is the major player in the rise and serious organised crimes are a major factor.
Jay Hughes, 15, is one of the teenagers that was stabbed in the capital. Jay Hughes was stabbed to death in a premeditated attack at a chicken shop in south-east London on Thursday.
