Photo credit: @ITV London and @NigeriaTodayNG | Twitter

With a soaring crime record (we reported on the 20% increase in rapes yesterday already) and an astonishing 16 deaths due to knife crimes in the past 8 weeks, ITV London (UK broadcaster) asked Labour (left-wing) mayor Mr. Sadiq Khan for an explanation as to how he will tackle the problem.

London crime statistics said there were 14,521 knife crime offenses in London in the year to January 2018 which is up a whopping 27 percent from 11,416 in the year to January 2017.

Given that so far 16 have died due to knife crimes in 2018 alone, this year will probably be worse.

In discussion with reporters, Mr. Khan defended his record even though the interviewer said this had been ‘going on for quite a while’ and the city seemed to be ‘unable to do anything about it.’

Mr. Khan said: “All Londoners need to know that it is simply not acceptable to carry a knife, you are putting yourself and others at risk, and you will be caught and face the full force of the law.”

<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Despite 16 deaths in 8 weeks, London's Mayor defends his record on knife crime. <a href="https://twitter.com/SadiqKhan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SadiqKhan</a> spoke to <a href="https://twitter.com/RiaChatter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RiaChatter</a> <a href="https://t.co/dfHa3ys3eM">pic.twitter.com/dfHa3ys3eM</a></p>— ITV London (@itvlondon) <a href="https://twitter.com/itvlondon/status/966789448007434240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote>

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“We are doing everything we can from City Hall to tackle the scourge of knife crime. However, it is rising across the UK, not just here in London, this is a national problem that requires national solutions. Londoners need the Government’s help if we are to beat it.”

Related coverage: <a href="http://thegoldwater.com/news/19201-London-Rapes-Rise-By-20-In-A-Year/"> London – Rapes Rise By 20% In A Year</a>.

Police Commissioner Cressida Dick: “I have spoken all too often at the anger I feel at the senseless waste of life.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today’s <a href="https://twitter.com/EveningStandard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EveningStandard</a>: two tragic knife deaths and the Met Commissioner’s response & exclusive poll on London local elections pointing to Tories losing flagships Westminster, Wandsworth and Barnet + <a href="https://twitter.com/MatthewdAncona?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MatthewdAncona</a> on new age of moral absolutism <a href="https://t.co/d2F6YuRQbm">pic.twitter.com/d2F6YuRQbm</a></p>— George Osborne (@George_Osborne) <a href="https://twitter.com/George_Osborne/status/966280425286062082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2018</a></blockquote>

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“Today two more families are suffering a terrible loss, and my thoughts are with them. The frequency with which some of our young people are prepared to take each other’s lives is shocking.”

Source:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/25/camden-knife-killings-somalis-police-abandoned-us?