Two families were left reeling by the loss of their teenage children over the weekend in stabbing attacks as new figures showed a 93% increase in the number of young people targeted by knives.
The home secretary, Sajid Javid, will this week chair a scheduled meeting of police chiefs to discuss knife crime. In a statement he said: “Young people are being murdered across the country and it can’t go on.
Rape and sexual offences where a knife was used by someone aged 18 or under rose by 38% to a total of 46, and robbery offences where a knife was used rose by over 50%, to 999 crimes.
Data from the NHS shows in the last five years the number of children aged 16 and under being treated for assault by a knife or other sharp objects rose by 93%, from 180 admissions in 2012/13 to 347 in 2017/18.
Hogan-Howe called for tougher action against the growing drugs market and for the government to reverse police cuts that mean officer numbers are 20,000 fewer than when the Conservatives took power in 2010.
Nearest tube: Elephant & Castle underground station (Northern and Bakerloo lines).
Nearest Railway Station: Elephant & Castle
Buses from Elephant and Castle: ask bus driver for Burgess Park. Bus numbers: 12, 171, 148, 176, 68, 484, 42, 40, 45