Knife crime has overtaken terrorism as the top priority for the Metropolitan Police as one of Britain's most senior officers admitted that the fight to stop teenagers carrying weapons was not working. Deputy Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said today that the battle against knife crime has become "the No 1 priority" for the Met as the 18th teenager to die a violent death in the capital this year was named. To try and stem the rising tide of young deaths he has ordered all senior officers to look at their current operations and see if any personnel can be diverted to help tackle the rise in stabbings. In May the Metropolitan Police launched the high-profile Operation Blunt 2 - involving taking airport style metal detectors onto the streets and instituting Section 60 powers, allowing officers to search youths within a certain geographical area.
Knife crime has overtaken terrorism as the top priority for the Metropolitan Police as one of Britain's most senior officers admitted that the fight to stop teenagers carrying weapons was not working.
Deputy Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said today that the battle against knife crime has become "the No 1 priority" for the Met as the 18th teenager to die a violent death in the capital this year was named.
To try and stem the rising tide of young deaths he has ordered all senior officers to look at their current operations and see if any personnel can be diverted to help tackle the rise in stabbings.
In May the Metropolitan Police launched the high-profile Operation Blunt 2 - involving taking airport style metal detectors onto the streets and instituting Section 60 powers, allowing officers to search youths within a certain geographical area.
Has anyone bothered to compare casualties from stabbing to, say, household accidents (not to mention car accidents, lighting strikes or early lung cancer)?
sigh again. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
There's more people slipping and dying in their bathroom each year. Or struck by lighting. Or beaten to death by their companion/husband.
Jeez. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
The Metropolitan Police is only for London, not for the whole country.
The murder rate for the 12 months to May'08 was 168, and in January-June 08 there were 20 stabbings of teenagers, by teenagers.
There is also a growing problem with gang violence involving teenagers.
You can choose to not care and make jokes about lighting bolts. I suppose 168 murder cases in all of london are not enough to drive policy either - let's abolish the Metropolitan Police. When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
Don't put words in my mouth, please. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
The term "postcode wars" refers to a modern day phenomenon that make some estates no-go areas for Islington youths. For feuding gang members, stepping over the "front line" between N1 and E8 can mean death. Numerous killings, including the 2005 murder of Essayas Kassahun in Old Street, have been linked to the phenomenon. Ms Woolcock said: "This is not something hyped up by the media. It is very real and happening every day. They have their own language and there are signs for each postcode area. It is very dangerous for young men to be caught in the wrong place." She will be "in conversation" with Nicola Abel-Hirsch of the British Psychoanalytical Society tonight.
Ms Woolcock said: "This is not something hyped up by the media. It is very real and happening every day. They have their own language and there are signs for each postcode area. It is very dangerous for young men to be caught in the wrong place."
She will be "in conversation" with Nicola Abel-Hirsch of the British Psychoanalytical Society tonight.
