We don’t feel safe anymore
London’s Mayor jeered as families say crime is out of control
A FURIOUS mother told London’s mayor families “do not feel safe” as she condemned police station closures and falling officer numbers.
Sadiq Khan announced the closure of 37 of the capital’s 73 police station front counters last year, blaming government cuts.
Yesterday the Labour mayor said council tax could go up by an extra £12 a year to support the Metropolitan Police. It came a day after an audience member at a State of London Debate told Mr Khan communities did not feel safe amid rising violence on the city’s streets.
The mayor was also jeered when he said people should take confidence from the huge number of knives seized in recent months.
Police have launched 81 murder probes in London so far this year, with gangs fighting bloody battles for lucrative drug markets and territory.
The unnamed woman said: “In February alone, 250 knives and swords were seized across London, just within one week. We had 51 people who have fatally been stabbed in London since the beginning of this year.
“One of those people was stabbed 200 yards from a closed police station here in Greenwich, where I live.
“Already, from 2018, we have 1,296 reported stabbings in London, according to these statistics. It happened outside that police station that is closed down, my local police station. There are no bobbies on our street. Londoners, we don’t feel safe. Our communities do not feel safe.
“You give me statistics, Mr Khan, and that’s fair enough. But for me as a parent, I’m telling you, we do not feel safe. We don’t feel safe in London.
“Give me known facts so I can let my son out in the streets of London and feel safe,” she added.
Within 24 hours of her plea, a 20-yearold man was stabbed to death in Edmonton, north London, while a woman was fatally knifed in her garden in Greenwich in the east of the city, while a 41-year-old man wounded at New Eltham station.
Steve O’Connell, chairman of the London Assembly police and crime committee, said: “Londoners want practical action taken to stop the scourge of violent crime sweeping the capital. London is getting a depressing reputation for lawlessness and the buck stops with the mayor.”
The number of officers in the capital has fallen below 30,000 with fears there could be 27,500 by 2021, with each borough having just one front-counter police station. Announcing plans for a was council tax rise, Mr Khan said yesterday: “Nothing is more important to me than keeping Londoners safe. Earlier this week, damning figures were published that highlight the devastating impact government cuts have had on front-line policing.
“While I recognise that council tax hits those who can least afford to pay it the hardest, I have once again been left with no choice but to propose a modest increase in bills for 2019-20 so I that I can raise the much-needed funds that the Government have refused to provide.”