Crime Solicitors

Tottenham MP David Lammy has criticised London Mayor Boris Johnson for failing in his pledge to tackle knife crime in the capital.

Mr Lammy was speaking after the murder of Islington teenager Stefan Appleton on Wednesday (10/06/15), who was stabbed in a children’s playground at 6pm that evening by two attackers riding a moped.

The 18-year-old was repeatedly stabbed in the back and chest with a machete by the pillion passenger on the moped – police are hunting for two teenagers in connection with the attack.

It is reported they drove down Islington’s busy Essex Road after killing Mr Appleton, who tried to cycle to the home of a family member in Caldy Walk, Islington after being attacked, but collapsed and died a short time later in hospital.

London Mayor Boris Johnson had pledged to make reducing youth knife crime one of his main missions when he became mayor in 2008.

However, figures compiled by the London Labour Assembly Group using data from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) reveal that knife crime in London hit a peak in March 2015, with 17,768 incidents recorded – a 27% increase on figures for the same period in 2014.

Despite a slight fall in figures for April this year, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has expressed concerns about the level of knife crime in the capital, the Evening Standard reports.

North London Labour MP David Lammy – whose constituency Tottenham is close to the London Borough of Islington – said:

“Since 2008, knife crime has got worse, not better. There are 186 gangs across London – that’s higher than when Boris Johnson took office – and 40% of all stabbings are by gang members.

“Boris made this his priority when he took office and he has failed.

“There is much more that can be done – entire neighbourhoods in London feel terrorised by gangs.

“I’ve sat with too many parents who have lost innocent children to knife and violent crime. Their sons have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s tragic when it happens.

“We say it must never happen again and yet time and time again it does.”

Mr Lammy is one of Labour’s candidates for the office of Mayor when Boris Johnson leaves the post.
A spokesman for MOPAC said:

“Tackling knife crime remains an absolutely key priority for the Met and Mayor – and any local instances of knife crime will be targeted by police.

“They will continue to carry out a wide range of operations and crime prevention activities as part of an ongoing drive to reduce this offence.”

Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors

Duncan Lewis crime lawyers can advise at any stage of a criminal charge, including charges relating to violent crime such as knife crime, gun crime, gang crime, ABH/GBH, assault, murder and rape.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and a criminal defence solicitor can usually reach a police station or court within an hour to advise on criminal charges.

For expert legal advise on all criminal charges, call Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors on 020 7923 4020.

For 24/7 help at a police station, call the Duncan Lewis Emergency Hotline on 020 7275 2036.