More high visibility patrols are needed in London’s violent crime hotspots to counter a new surge in teenage killings in the capital, the policing minister warned.
Chris Philp said he also wanted more “respectful use of stop and search” to take knives off the streets to prevent more “heartbreaking” loss of young lives.
His comments follow four teenage killings in London in the past month and come ahead of the school summer holidays when fears about youth violence have traditionally been heightened by the absence of supervision in class.
The victims include a 16-year-old boy who died on Monday after being stabbed in Forest Gate and 17-year-old Victor Lee, who was fatally stabbed before being found in a canal in Ladbroke Grove just over three weeks ago.
The others killed in the recent violence were Leonardo Reid, 15, from Islington, who was one of two knife victims stabbed to death in Islington a fortnight ago, and 18-year-old Andre Salmon. He was shot dead while riding a moped in Haringey earlier this month.
Mr Philp said each death was a “tragedy” and urged the Met to step up police action to reduce the risk of further loss of life.
He also took a swipe at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, saying that he should be “doing so much more” including expanding and supporting the use of “important” stop and search and making sure that London’s record number of police are on the streets protecting the public
“Every young life taken on London’s streets is a tragedy,” Mr Philp told the Standard. “It’s heartbreaking to hear of futures cut short and so much potential wasted. With summer and the holidays more young people tend to be out and about so we need more visible patrols especially in hotspot areas.”
Mr Philp, the MP for Croydon South, said such hotspots included “East Croydon station in my own constituency” and added: “The respectful use of stop and search is taking around 400 knives off London’s streets each month, but Sadiq Khan should be supporting and expanding the use of this important power which can save young lives.
“London also has government funding for its violence reduction unit which provides constructive alternative activity for young people at risk of falling into gang violence.”
The number of teenage homicides hit a record high total of 30 in 2021, but fell the following year when there were 14 such killings. The Met has also pointed to a decline in the number of under 25-year-olds being injured by knives as an indication that its efforts to suppress violence are having some success.
