London needs urgent measures as killing spree tarnishes its "safe" image

APD NEWS

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When talking about London, people often referred to the British capital as the world's financial center and one of the safest tourist destinations.

But the image of a safe London has been tarnished by a stream of shooting and stabbing, making the city's murder rate exceed New York City's, according to media reports. This week, six of the reported stabbings on Thursday happened within 95 minutes of one another.

So far this year, over 50 killings have been reported, 22 in March alone, according to London police. The fatality figure for 2017, the year the city suffered multiple terrorist attacks, was only 116 in comparison.

Though criminologists caution against drawing conclusions from just a few months' figures, if the uptick continues at the current rate, it will be London's highest level of violence in more than a decade.

February marked the first month the British capital saw more murders than New York City, with 15 dead, nine of them aged 30 or younger.

Both cities have similar-sized populations of around 8.5 million people.

London suffered 22 fatal stabbings and shootings in March, higher than the 21 in the Big Apple, according to press reports.

More than half of the assailants are in their 20s or younger, and poor. Metropolitan police files show that half of all deaths involving knives are directly linked to the drugs trade and gang turf wars.Some 40 percent of youth homicides are reportedly gang-related.

There are growing calls for the authorities to set out substantial plans to address the crisis.

Next week, British Home Secretary Amber Rudd is expected to announce a new anti-violence strategy of interventions to deter young boys from offending.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan on Saturday backed the use of targeted stop-and-search in the capital after six people were killed in shootings and stabbings in the past seven days.

Though the crime surge is blamed on the reduced police force, experts say joint combative efforts are needed by government agencies, schools and parents.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)