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Sadiq Khan today demanded 6,000 more police officers in London as he insisted Tory cuts were to blame for spiralling violent crime.

The capital's mayor said he "accepts responsibility" for a crimewave that has left dozens dead on the streets of his city so far this year.

But he said he would not apologise for drawing the link with Tory cuts that have removed 21,000 officers from England and Wales since 2010.

The Labour politician told LBC radio: "I'm the Mayor of London, I'm the Police and Crime Commissioner - I accept responsibility for what happens in our city.

"Security is the biggest concern that I have, it’s the one thing that keeps me up at night.

"Whether it’s terrorism threats, whether it's the surge in serious violent crime.

"But I am not going to apologise for explaining the context."

(Image: Getty Images Europe) (Image: PA)

Mr Khan added: "All of us except for the Government accept there’s a link between cutting resources and serious violent crime.

"That’s not the sole reason by the way, but there’s a link."

Pressed on whether he should apologise, he said: "We can dance around the question of how much responsibility is mine as opposed to the Government's - we're doing what we can."

Scotland Yard currently has around 30,000 officers and Mr Khan said the "ideal" figure would be 36,000, like New York.

"36,000 would be the ideal scenario, but any increase from the government would be welcome," he said.

Labour has already promised to recruit 10,000 more police officers in its 2017 election manifesto.

It comes days after Britain's top cop warned the Government is "naive" to think Tory police cuts have not fuelled a surge in violent crime.

Met Police chief Cressida Dick told MPs austerity was one reason for the bloody violence with dozens of killings so far this year.

Knife and gun crime has surged in London, leaving the murder rate higher than in New York.

Ms Dick described the recent spate of knife crime in London as a "horrible phenomenon".

And she told the Home Affairs Select Committee there was no doubt that "reduced numbers of officers on the street" had had an impact.