What was it - a billion pounds for the DUP but the police criminally underfunded - and AIBU to be scared for my teens in London

[How999]

Statistically I know maybe I am being unreasonable - but it feels like we hear of a murder in London almost every day. Definitely every week.

Knife crime, whether causing death or injury, is rife, and gun crime also plays a part.

It’s tragic and frightening, and what can we do about it??

[MindyStClaire]

YABU about investment in NI Vs London (although yes, the DUP are reprehensible).

YANBU about the disgraceful underfunding of the police and other vital services (health, education) by successive Tory governments.

[underneaththeash]

It's shocking isn't it.
More police especially in the high risk areas of London would make a big difference and they need to crack down on the smaller crimes too, Major Giuliani showed in New York that can make a impact on overall violent crime reduction. But, much of the gang currently are involved in the drug trade, cracking down on that too will have an massive impact.

Ultimately the police need more resources.

Anyway, OP one of the reasons we left London was the worry for my teen boys, we're much safer here in leafy Bucks.

[x2boys]

I don't know,I was watching 24 hours in police custody the other night and a young lad got knifed to death for looking at someone the wrong way in luton ,we dont live anywhere near London but it still makes me fearful.

[How999]

Of course I want NI to be invested in. I was trying to say that the government found the money for the DUP but can’t find it for the police apparently.

I would move, but my dc wouldn’t at this stage.

[CallMeCarolDanvers]

London still has fewer murders than New York, which is one of the safest US cities. And from what I see, a huge proportion of the murders (about 130 last year, so just over 2 a week), are gang related or domestics. If your kids aren't in a gang or a terrible relationship the chances of anything terrible happening is slim. In fact 130 people were killed on the roads in London and I bet you're not panicking about their Green Cross Code knowledge.

Doesn't mean that I am ok with the cuts, btw. I am quite sure that low to moderate level crime has rocketed and cannot be properly dealt with. But murder teams and Parliamentary protection teams remain relatively well funded.

[How999]

a young lad got knifed to death for looking at someone the wrong way

It is this kind of thing that terrifies me.

[How999]

I panic about them crossing the roads too .

[InternetArgument]

Beat policing isn’t part of the current Met police strategy. An increase in police numbers would not mean more police on the streets. An increase in police numbers would not act as a deterrent to the kind of people currently stabbing people to death, as at present most offenders are caught.

Police respond to crimes like this. The Section 60 (permitting use of stop and search) is used to investigate in the aftermath of knife crime.

Sentencing provides little disincentive to people who consider gang related crime a badge of honour. To stab someone (fatally or otherwise) is to participate in “repping the block” - that is, to enhance the reputation of your area.

Killings such as that of Jodie Chesney - where the victim was unknown to the murderer - may be carried out as a means of initiation.

The idea that building a youth club for violent offenders with an income stream from drug dealing allowing will discourage them from their chosen career is risible.

I am seriously concerned that the parallel culture of crime in London will not be effectively addressed and am preparing to move myself.

[x2boys]

Me too How my oldest started High school last September he has to cross several main roads I was panicking for weeks about this i still make him phone me when he gets to school.

[DerelictWreck]

a young lad got knifed to death for looking at someone the wrong way in luton ,we dont live anywhere near London but it still makes me fearful.

But that's Luton? Not London?

[HappydaysArehere]

It’s just another example of holding on to power no matter what. When this happened to Harold Wilson he struggled along and then went back to the country. He didn’t spend the country’s resources and then we had police on the street. You asked them the way, the time, you told youngsters to tell a policeman if they were in any sort of trouble. Now they are willing to change their strongly held views to have a sniff at power.

[x2boys]

I realise that Derelict,'ll expect it's everywhere but its,still terrifying that there seems to be such little regard for human life .

[OldSiam]

There have been some big changes in the past 10 years or so and not for the better.

1. The Neighbourhood police teams rolled out in the early 00s are gone. These teams were focussed on foot patrol.
   
2. May did not support stop and search. She threatened to take the power away. What do the police care if you take the power away?! That struck me as extremely spiteful - and stupid because if you take away stop and search the only other way to allay or confirm suspicions is to arrest.
   
3. Lots of investigative teams were disbanded so uniform are now investigating stuff like GBHs so are more office-bound

[Streamside]

Surely you mean money for Northern Ireland rather than for the DUP.The DUP was in a situation where they could secure the funding and that's hardly their fault. Policing needs an overhaul and the lack of neighbourhood policing and relationship building in the community is a real issue.

[PlainSpeakingStraightTalking]

Are your teens into drugs?
No?

There we go !

[MenuPlant]

I agree with Carol dancers.

Also and I know it's contraversial I think radical rethink of drugs approach is required. If you google war on drugs USA which is where our approach derives, the reason it was started is surprising and shocking.

It's a complex issue but bottom line is as long as there is demand, and supply is illegal, there will be high levels of criminality around the supply.

[MenuPlant]

Carol Dancers that should say.

[MenuPlant]

Ffs!

Danvers!!!

[MenuPlant]

Also in London Real issues with antisocial behaviour by everybody really, minor but shitty stuff like cycle gangs of teens speeding along pavements, people parking all over the fucking place in pedestrian areas forcing people into road, the stuff that is day to day.

The haven't been police on street here for years and people seem to do what they can get away with.

This is the stuff that makes people feel unhappy and nervous before you even get to the statistically pretty rare stuff eg being stabbed to death.

[How999]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-47765914

Four people randomly stabbed from behind over a period of 10 hours in Edmonton this weekend. Two are in critical condition.

[Siameasy]

They are saying mental health but it’s weird to hear of two people both going out and doing this to random people
A lone nutter you do hear of but two together?
Maybe they took drugs together and both went and did it in an intoxicated state of mind ?