Sadiq Khan is offering all 500 secondary schools in London knife wand metal detectors to screen pupils for weapons in the wake of 15-year-old Elianne Andam’s murder.
The mayor will write to headteachers on Friday outlining support, resources and funding available to tackle the surge in youth violence.
A 17-year-old boy will stand trial next year accused of repeatedly stabbing aspiring lawyer Elianne as she made her way to school near the Whitgift shopping centre in Wellesley Road, Croydon on September 27.
Days later Taye Faik, 16, was knifed to death in Kendal Gardens, Edmonton – making him the 16th teenage victim in the capital so far this year.
Mr Khan said schools can ask the Metropolitan Police to provide an officer to deliver knife crime prevention talks to students or request knife wands to be used on their premises.
Teachers can keep the handheld devices at school but have the option of setting up a dedicated police operation at the end of lessons.
A mentoring scheme will also deliver messages on the importance of a trusted adult in a young person’s life to steer them away from gang leaders.
Toolkits to tackle violence against women and girls are also available, teaching boys aged 11 to 18 the understanding of why words and attitudes matter and calling out misogynistic behaviour.
Mr Khan said: “Every death of a young person on the streets of our city is utterly heartbreaking. I want to support our schools and hard-working teachers to access the support, resources and funding they need to help prevent and tackle violence.”
Lib Peck, director of London’s Violence Reduction Unit, added: “We’re committed to supporting and working with schools and colleges across London to ensure children and young people are safe in order to develop and thrive.
“Schools and teachers, who are already doing more with less, have seen the impact of this in the classroom first-hand.”
