Our capital is in crisis

LONDON is in the grip of a violent crime epidemic after two shootings in our capital within an hour cut short the lives of a girl and a boy in their teens.

Murder rates starting to top those of New York is a trend we must break, protecting the innocent and restoring law and order.

No simple answer exists but slashing youth services and punching holes in the thin blue line by reducing police numbers were dangerous austerity cuts by the Tories.

Maintaining public safety is an essential service the Government is failing to provide as knife and gun crimes spread across the UK against a backdrop of acid and moped attacks.

Every statistic on an assault or murder is a ruined or lost life, leaving weeping families on vigils at hospital bedsides. As death rates used to be lower, there is clearly an answer. What that is may change over time but it is there.

We need to be tough on crime and the causes of crime.