London's Mayor says he is "angered and heartbroken" about ongoing deaths in the capital as he heaped further pressure on the Government about rising levels of violent crime.

Sadiq Khan highlighted that crime had risen across the country since 2014 as he responded to calls he had not spoken out following the latest deaths.

Seven people have died since last Friday on the streets of the capital, including the latest to be named, 18-year-old Israel Ogunsola.

Image: The Metropolitan Police launched a murder investigation on Thursday morning

Mr Khan said on Twitter: "I'm angered and heartbroken by the number of violent deaths on our streets this week - and this year.

He added in an interview: "Twelve of those who have lost their lives this year have been teenagers.


"As the father of two teenagers daughters I worry as a dad, and that's why we have to make sure we grapple with this problem - but I can't solve it by myself."

I‘m angered and heartbroken by the recent violent deaths on our streets. @metpoliceuk patrols have already been increased and extra stop-and-search powers are in place. If you have any information about these horrific crimes – please contact the police. pic.twitter.com/SXgGqL7zIV — Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) April 5, 2018

"I have been saying to the Government that it's not sustainable to make the level of cuts they have been making to London.

"In the last seven years we have lost £700 million from the policing budget. My message to the Government is please work with us to solve this national problem."

An MP whose constituency has seen four people killed since Christmas, David Lammy, also attacked the Government for failing to take action.

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Is a life in my constituency worth less than a life elsewhere in our country? I have had four young people lose their lives since Christmas and not a single phone call or visit from the PM or Home Secretary. Where is the political consensus on a serious strategy? Enough is enough — David Lammy (@DavidLammy) April 5, 2018

The Tottenham MP said he has not received a phone call from the Prime Minister or the Home Secretary, let alone a visit.

Mr Lammy said on Twitter: "Is a life in my constituency worth less than a life elsewhere in our country?

"I have had four young people lose their lives since Christmas and not a single phone call or visit from the PM or Home Secretary.

"Where is the political consensus on a serious strategy? Enough is enough."

Image: Iuliana Tudos

The four who have died in Tottenham are thought to be: Iuliana Tudos, 22, whose stabbed and beaten body was found in Finsbury Park on 27 December; Kwabena Nelson, 22, who was stabbed in the Bruce Grove area of Tottenham on 3 February; Leyla Mtumwa, 36, who was found stabbed to death at an address in the Downhills Park area on 30 March; and Tanesha Melbourne, 17, who died from gunshot wounds after a drive-by shooting in the Northumberland Park area on 2 April.

Image: Tanesha Melbourne died in her mother's arms

Ms Mtumwa and Tanesha were two of the seven who have been killed since last Friday, prompting fears this year's murder rate could well outstrip that of 2017.

Mr Lammy said he believes that the billions to be made in the drug market are responsible for inter gang conflict and violence.

Image: Kwabena Nelson

"Buying cocaine is easier than ordering a pizza on Deliveroo. And I'm hearing nothing from the Government about what they're going to do about organised crime and serious gangsters who control this market," he added.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, who is MP for Hackney, also called for more government action over the rise in killings in London.

She told Sky News: "We need more police officers on the street. Here in Hackney, we have lost one in four of our police officers since 2010.

Image: Leyla Mtumwa

"We also need to look at what they've successfully done in Glasgow, which was the knife crime capital of the country.

"They have taken a public health approach, which means working with schools, with mental health facilities, with social workers, with youth work, to have a real chance of a solution and the remarkable thing is in Glasgow, since adopting this approach, last year they had no deaths from knife crime."

A statement from the Home Office said: "The UK has some of the toughest gun laws in the world and we are determined to keep it that way.

Abbott asked: Where is Sadiq Khan?

"We have already consulted on new laws on offensive and dangerous weapons, including banning online stores from delivering knives to residential addresses and making it an offence to possess certain weapons in private.

"Our new Serious Violence Strategy will put a stronger focus on steering young people away from violence whilst continuing to ensure the strongest possible law enforcement response.

"As part of the strategy we have already announced new funding of up to £1m for the Home Office Community Fund which will be provided to help communities tackle knife crime and have launched a new advertising campaign to reduce knife crime among young people."

Image: Officers inform members of the public about Project Servator after the launch of the operation

The Met Police's Project Servator, which is already in place in the City, was extended on Thursday to cover the whole of the capital, including its airports.

Under the project, highly visible and covert police officers, supported by dogs, mounted officers, firearms teams, vehicle checkpoints, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and CCTV, will be deployed at any time, anywhere, a Met statement said.