As Sadiq Khan kicked off his historic third term, a spate of violence marred the bank holiday weekend across north and east London, resulting in three fatalities.
Police responded to an incident on Millicent Grove, Palmers Green, Enfield, where a man in his late 50s was found injured. A 16-year-old boy was also treated for stab wounds. In Bethnal Green, a 38-year-old man identified as Jack Hague was fatally stabbed following an altercation. Additionally, Metropolitan Police detectives are probing a fatal stabbing in Waltham Forest.
A week before these stabbings were reported, London faced tragedy when a man wielding a sword went on a stabbing spree, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring four others. He was later tasered and arrested by a female police officer. One 14-year-old boy died, while two members of the public and two police officers were hospitalised due to the attack. Most recently, Anita Mukhey (66), who was born in Pune and was an OCI card holder, was stabbed to death at a bus stop in Burnt Oak Broadway, Edgware. All these incidents paint a concerning picture.
However, since his re-election, the mayor has announced a further investment of a record £14.5 million in a major expansion of his Violence Reduction Unit’s (VRU) flagship prevention programme to tackle violence. New funding will be used to expand the VRU’s MyEnds programme and its neighbourhood-focused approach to every borough in London, for the first time ever.
He said, “Tackling violence is my top priority. I’m committed to building a safer London by being tough on violence and tough on its complex causes.
“I said on my re-election as Mayor, that the next generation of Londoners would be the focus of my third term as Mayor, and my first major announcement in my first week is about providing a step change in the support we provide young Londoners who need it the most.
"I have always been clear that we will never be able to arrest our way out of violence, which is driven by poverty, deprivation and lack of opportunity."
“This major City Hall funding boost will help my Violence Reduction Unit expand its MyEnds programme across London and help communities to target interventions through youth work, mentoring and after-school activities, in the neighbourhoods in greatest need of support."
As Asian Voice reached out for Mr Khan’s statement on this pandemic plaguing London, a spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “The Mayor has set out comprehensive targets and actions he will take to continue to decrease knife crime in London and make the capital safer for everyone over the next four years.
“These include recruiting an extra 1,300 neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs to make communities safer and bear down on knife crime, investing more in youth clubs to help steer thousands of young Londoners away from the dangers of gangs and crime, redoubling efforts to reduce violence against women and girls with free legal advice for victims of sexual abuse and supporting the Met to deliver the reforms our police service needs and our city deserves.”
The politics behind the rise of the crime pandemic
The number of knife or sharp instrument offences recorded by the police in London rose to approximately 12,786 in 2022/23, compared to 11,122 the previous year. This marked the highest number of knife crime offences reported in London since 2019/20, when there were 15,928 cases. Between 2015/16 and 2019/20, knife crime in London increased annually, with a significant spike occurring between 2016/17 and 2017/18.
Despite Tory pledges to crack down on knife crime, hardcore offenders are repeatedly walking free. Ministry of Justice (MoJ) statistics show that an offender with nine convictions received a community sentence during their most recent court appearance, typically involving unpaid work such as painting benches or clearing rubbish.
In 2022, the most recent year available, 11 individuals received a fourth knife conviction, one received a fifth, two a sixth, and one a ninth. None have ever been jailed for their crimes. In their 2019 manifesto, the Tories pledged to prioritise tackling knife offences, declaring, “Those who use a knife as a weapon should go to prison.” However, the number of fatal cases involving children has continued to horrify the nation.
Labour, on the other hand, has promised to halve the knife crime pandemic in the UK if elected. The party's platform includes implementing tough consequences for carrying a knife to remove them from the streets, early intervention to prevent young people from being drawn into crime and exploitation, and fostering a coalition between the government and the community to act together.
However, the question that stands is what happens if Rishi Sunak’s prediction of a hung parliament comes true. Will a coalition be able to come together to fight this issue effectively? Currently, one can only witness the blame game being played between the government and the opposition. Another point that stands is that while the Tories do have a major responsibility towards these issues, the increased knife crime in London is majorly a Labour Party problem, given the stronghold over the city.
Need to stop alienating the youth
Bruce Houlder CB KC, the founder of Fighting Knife Crime, London has spoken to young people whose everyday lives are impacted by knife crime. He describes the youth’s mindset stating, “Some describe it as ‘normal’ which is quite frightening. In 2023, the Youth Endowment Fund surveyed 7,500 teenagers to explore changing trends in violence. Only 4% admitted to carrying a weapon, but 80% of those who did said it was for their own protection.
“This indicates a willingness to use them, which is not only madness but also illegal. In the communities where these young men are found, the lives of the entire community are blighted by fear of violence and the loss of loved ones. This is all they achieve by carrying knives for 'protection’.”
Bruce feels thatthe root causes of knife crime are historic failures to help the poorest communities in London, shameful cuts in funding for youth services over the last 15 years, and the failure of governments to recognise that young people are the future, many having great untapped talent. He said, “We have alienated a generation of young people who feel they have nowhere else to turn. First, respect them for what they could be, provide sustained funding for community faculties where they can grow, do what they are good at, and prove themselves.
“Early education is also vital. We must teach children from the age of 8 onwards values that show respect for them as well as others, and the dangers of carrying knives at all.”
He is also of the opinion that the use of new unobtrusive technology should be supported. For instance, the one developed in the United States to detect people carrying knives from a distance without them being aware of this and those known to be carrying them need to be approached. The fear of arrest would be a major factor in reducing carrying. He also said that the sentencing options need to be imaginative and less punitive for low-level offenders.
Many alternative disposal options could be used but some authorities and politicians shy away from them. “Public debate needs to become more nuanced and informed, and every single person has a part to play in making our streets safer. Trust in the police is an issue which needs to be addressed as a priority. Stop and Search, although much criticised is a vital tool when properly executed and done with greater sensitivity. Only those with something to hide should object to this”, he said.
About combating knife crime effectively, he added, “It is for all of us, with the bounds of our individual talents and time, to do something to educate and solve the problems. If the system cannot achieve it, then we can only look to communities and the individual determination of each one of us to buck the system. If we are criticising young people, we should also ask, what we are doing to help them. They won't respect us unless we first respect them.
Dr Ronald Dodzro is a Clinical and Community Psychologist who has researched and written extensively on the experiences of marginalisation and decolonisation, with features in The Psychologist, The Clinical Psychology Forum, and Forbes. he works with some of London’s most at-risk young people to help them escape the cycle of gang affiliated violence and police brutality. He said, “For me, the issue lies not only with individuals but the systems that surround young people. Society needs to be held accountable for creating violent social environments. Gang violence is not a disease but rather a symptom of an unequal society plagued with racism, inequality and poverty. While society allows communities to be plagued by these issues, the cycle of gang violence will continue.”
Local public establishments concerned
Meet and Deep Newsagents is a grocery shop in London, run by Shashi and Pallu Patel. Their son, Deepen Patel shared his concerns regarding the potential risk of such crimes happening at public establishments like his, stating, “ We are concerned about the increasing incidence of knife crime in the UK, particularly in public establishments. People can easily obtain knives these days from online sources, and TV shows, films, and other media have normalised knife crime as something that just happens. When this behaviour is normalised in society, it becomes easier for people to mentally justify committing knife crimes.
“You don't necessarily have to be someone who's done something wrong to be a victim of knife crime. One of our very close friends, Archie Beston, was stabbed to death in Kingston upon Thames, very close to our store. He was only 19 and was simply helping someone else. He was not to blame for anything. This is very worrying because people take out their anger and frustration on innocent individuals. As a result, nobody is safe. Something has to be done.”
He also shared the precautions he takes to ensure extra safety at his establishment, stating, “We use CCTV cameras throughout the premises, including a visible screen where customers can see they are being monitored, and a sign at the door indicating that CCTV is in operation. This tends to deter anyone who may be planning to cause trouble. It also reassures us and our staff that we are safer, and if anything does happen, it will be caught on camera.
“Additionally, we ensure that there are always at least two people in the shop at all times. When only one person is present, potential attackers may find it easier to carry out an attack. However, with two people in the shop, the presence of another person creates a sense of intimidation, making it more difficult for an attacker. This "safety in numbers," combined with our CCTV system, helps deter potential attackers and enhances our overall safety.”
