Fury as knife crime in London surges by 58 per cent in just three years as cops ‘surrender streets to thugs & thieves’
Alamy
KNIFE crime has surged by 58 per cent in London in three years, a report has revealed.
Just 20 streets around Oxford Circus and Regent Street accounted for one in every 15 knife attacks across the capital, Policy Exchange said.
It also claimed that offenders were being let off the hook, with more than 4,500 prolific offenders walking free from court last year.
The report’s author, ex-Met Police Det Chief Insp David Spencer, said: “London is in the grip of a knife crime, robbery and theft epidemic.”
“A cosy consensus between police chiefs and political leaders has led to a collapse in proactive policing.
“In particular, stop and search rates.
“This allows the streets to be surrendered to thugs, robbers and thieves.”
The report made 17 recommendations, including redeploying 850 desk-based officers to the front line and flooding crime hotspots with stop and search patrols.
It also called for automatic jail time for prolific offenders and tougher sentences for repeat knife carriers.
Backing a tougher line, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “The analysis lays bare the scale of the challenge for police chiefs and policy makers alike.
“But this report is not a counsel of despair – it is a call to action.”
AlamyKnife crime has surged by 58 per cent in London in three years[/caption]
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