The Standard View: The scourge of knife crime shames our capital

Sadiq Khan made the announcement ahead of the London Mayoral election (Jordan Pettitt/PA)
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It is the bloodstain on our city, tearing families apart and leaving Londoners living in a state of fear. Knife and gun crime in the capital soared by 20 per cent last year, with the families of those killed today accusing Sadiq Khan of “completely losing control” of the capital’s streets.

Jasna Badzak, whose son Sven was stabbed to death as he returned from a shopping trip at Waitrose in Kilburn, has suggested that under the Mayor’s watch, criminals now “rule London”. Julius Cools, father of 14-year-old Jermaine Cools, who died in a Croydon machete attack, warned that suspects are feeling emboldened because they are “getting away with it time after time”.

The raw figures ought to shake local and national politicians into action. On average, 40 knife crimes were recorded every single day in London last year, according to the Office for National Statistics. The data also shows a nearly 40 per cent rise in blade offences since Khan came to power in 2016.

The Mayor’s announcement today of an extension to the “My Ends” initiative run by the violence reduction unit to tackle complex causes of crime is welcome. Yet, made three days prior to election day, it threatens to ring hollow at best, or as crass electioneering at worst.

Border dispute

All governments encounter political difficulties in relation to migration, both legal and illegal, and Ireland is no different. Deputy Irish leader Micheál Martin has warned he will take action to return asylum seekers who travelled from the UK to Ireland. The sides are to meet, no doubt seeking to sound the toughest on tackling illegal migration.

As Brexit-watchers will be all too aware, the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic is no ordinary boundary. Both governments agree on the necessity it remains open, so crucial as it is to maintain peace and prosperity on the island of Ireland. Of course, such a border creates difficulties when it comes to questions of managing migration.

Much as the French do not allow deportation of migrants from Britain, the UK government is unlikely to acquiesce to Irish demands. Consequently, illegal immigration will remain an issue no European government feels confident in managing in practice, leaving only hardline rhetoric.

Date with destiny

It was a north London derby that lived up to all expectations, with Arsenal clinging on to earn a priceless victory. And yet, Man City’s comfortable win hours later was a reminder that the Gunners’ destiny is not in their own hands. Arsenal did their part — but hoping that City drop points in a title race has historically proven to be in vain.

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