JAMES Cleverly blasted Sadiq Khan for dismissing fears of machete gangs just a week before the terrifying sword attack in Hainault.
The Home Secretary accused the London Mayor of being in denial about knife crime in the capital.
the sunCleverly blasted Sadiq Khan for dismissing fears of machete gangs just a week before the terrifying sword attack in Hainault[/caption]
the sunThe Home Secretary accused the London Mayor of being in denial about knife crime in the capital[/caption]
PALondon Mayor Sadiq Khan was challenged over machete gangs by Susan Hall[/caption]
He told our politics show Never Mind The Ballots: “Across the whole of the country knife crime has trended downwards.
“But in London it has increased by something in the region of 20 per cent.”
Mr Cleverly’s comments come after Tory mayoral candidate Susan Hall challenged Mr Khan over “gangs running around with machetes” last week.
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Instead of taking her seriously, Mr Khan told her she should “stop watching” American crime drama The Wire, insisting “we’re not living in Baltimore, USA, in the noughties.”
But his response sparked a backlash as it came just days before a 14-year-old was killed when a sword-wielding maniac allegedly went on a rampage in Hainault, London.
Five people including two police officers were knifed the terrifying frenzy.
Responding to the attack, Mr Cleverly told our show: “The terrible loss of life, particularly of a child is always awful.
LAWLESS LONDON: KNIFE CRIME HITS RECORD HIGH
By SALMA OUAGUIRA, News Reporter
LONDON’s knife crime problem has hit an all-time high, with shocking statistics revealing a surge in offences across the city.
This is despite Mayor Sadiq Khan‘s attempts to downplay concerns just days before a sword attack in Hainault, north-east London.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) painted a grim picture.
Last year, the Met Police recorded a staggering 14,577 knife crimes, averaging nearly 40 incidents per day.
This surpasses the previous peak in 2019, a year marked by a surge in homicides predominantly linked to knife and gang violence.
London‘s knife crime epidemic accounts for a whopping portion of the national total, with the capital suffering a 29 per cent increase in knife-related offences.
The borough of Redbridge, where a 14-year-old lost his life in a recent sword attack saw a 15.2 per cent rise in crimes – the highest rate since 2018.
Critics have pointed fingers at the decline in the Met Police’s use of stop and searches – which have plummeted by 23 per cent in recent years.
This contrasts sharply with other regions where stop and searches have significantly increased.
Until 2023 the Met boasted the most stop and searches of all police forces, but it has now been overtaken by Greater Manchester Police with a 22 per cent.
Critics have slammed the Labour Mayor’s scepticism towards stop and search tactics.
Many argued that a stronger police presence is needed on the streets to tackle knife crime effectively.
Former Met Police detective Peter Bleksley said there was not enough “patrolling presence of police on the streets”
He added: “Neighbourhood community policing has been decimated in recent years.”
A recent survey by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) revealed that over 20 per cent of Londoners have been victims of attacks or threats in the past five years.
In response to growing concerns, a spokesman for Mr Khan said: “Sadiq was challenging some of the misinformation being spread by some of his opponents about London, including footage of an attack in New York to try and paint a very bleak picture of London.
“Keeping Londoners safe is Sadiq’s number one priority, and he is investing a record £151 million in this year’s budget for policing and crime prevention and tackling the causes of crime by investing in youth clubs, against a backdrop of massive cuts by the Tory Government.”
“But the police acted swiftly, responded quickly and the officers displayed huge bravery in confronting an armed person on the streets of London.
“I’ve had an update from the Commissioner of Police on those officers who were injured and I have so much admiration for their decisiveness and their courage in light of what has happened.”
Asked if further restrictions for the sale of knives are planned, Mr Cleverly said the Government has already put a “whole range of legislation in place”, with more coming through in the Criminal Justice Bill in regards to weapons such as zombie knives.
He added: “Of course, it is already illegal to carry a bladed weapon like that on the streets.”
On the comments made by the Labour Mayor, Mr Cleverly said: “I have publicly been critical of what I believe to be a failure of the Mayor to take violent crime in London seriously enough.
“I think comments like that portray an unwillingness to be really honest about the increase in knife crime in London.
“This is something that I’ve raised with him directly and hearing those comments, as I say, in my mind, reinforce the fact that he is not focusing on the things that he as Mayor of London, as the Police and Crime Commissioner for London should be concentrating on.”
How the Hainault knife rampage unfolded on April 30
6.54am – Horror begins when van smashes into home in Laing Close
Suspect filmed with huge sword walking towards New North Road
Alleged attacker approaches woman and tries so trap her but she sprints off
Woman tries to warn boy, 14, in school uniform man is stalking towards him but ‘he had headphones in’
Onlookers claim youngster ‘drops to ground’
Police car approaches man heads towards New North Road so he heads back down Franklyn Gardens
Footage shows suspect standing on garage in Franklyn Gardens
Brave cops approach man as he swings machete around
7.16am – suspect, 36, is Tasered and arrested in Thurlow Gardens
Cops confirm a boy, 14, was killed in the horror – with two officers seriously injured, too
Last year, the Met Police recorded a staggering 14,577 knife crimes, averaging nearly 40 incidents per day.
This surpasses the previous peak in 2019 – a year marked by a surge in homicides predominantly linked to knife and gang violence.
London‘s knife crime epidemic accounts for a whopping portion of the national total, with the capital suffering a 29 per cent increase in knife-related offences.
The borough of Redbridge, where the 14-year-old lost his life in the sword attack, saw a 15.2 per cent rise in crimes – the highest rate since 2018.
Critics have pointed fingers at the decline in the Met Police’s use of stop and searches – which have plummeted by 23 per cent in recent years.
This contrasts sharply with other regions where stop and searches have significantly increased.
The SunThe London Mayor will be grilled by Sun Politics Editor Harry Cole on Never Mind the Ballots at 7pm tonight[/caption]