Yahoo Finance Sadiq Khan ‘absolutely determined’ to drive down violence in second term
Sadiq Khan today pledged to drive down violent crime in London during his second term in office.
The mayor met Scotland Yard chief Dame Cressida Dick amid fears of a surge in stabbings and shootings this summer as lockdown measures ease.
As they both visited Lewisham Police Station, Mr Khan said: “There are far too many grieving families in our city who have needlessly lost loved ones to violence.
“As I start my second term as mayor, I’m absolutely determined to drive down violent crime across our city.
“That means a relentless focus on being tough on crime by supporting our hardworking police officers to keep our city safe, as well as being tough on the complex causes of crime, like poverty, inequality and lack of opportunities for young Londoners.
“I’m concerned that we could see an increase in violence this summer as lockdown measures continue to be eased so I’m working with the Met police to supress violent activity at a local level.”
City Hall today announced a £900,000 funding in a police custody programme that steers young adults away from crime.
The Divert project sees specially trained coaches - who are not police officers - meeting youngsters following their arrest to offer them training, education and employment opportunities.
The Met’s intervention coaches have supported 1,169 suspects aged 18 to 25 at custody suites in Brixton, Bethnal Green, Lewisham, Croydon, Wood Green and Hackney.
The extra money will fund the scheme at Wandsworth, Wembley, Leyton, Fresh Wharf, Hammersmith and Holborn police stations.
One teenager, who attended the custody scheme, said: “I haven’t had much support from my family or friends, but having Divert has kept me out of a dark place.”
It was the first time Mr Khan and Met Commissioner Dame Cressida have met in public since March.
Mr Khan’s record on crime came under scrutiny during the election.
An exclusive poll for the Evening Standard put tackling London’s knife crime epidemic above concerns about affordable housing and revitalising the capital’s pandemic-hit economy.
Meanwhile, three males will appear at the Old Bailey tomorrow charged with the murder of aspiring plumber Daniel Laskos, 16, in Harold Wood, Havering last Friday.
Daniel is the 13th teenager to die in a knife attack this year, just two short of the 15 killed in 2020 and on course to overtake the figure of 26 in 2019.
Callum Hands, 20, of Romford, and two teenagers, 15 and 17, are also accused of possessing an offensive weapon.
A 14-year-old boy and a man, 25, have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder over the fatal shooting of Patrick Anzy, 31, outside a bar in Gillett Square, Dalston at 1am on Saturday.
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