Met chief calls for funding to fight knife crime

THE menace of knife crime caused by London street gangs is a “significant issue” that needs more money to tackle it, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner has said.

Cressida Dick was questioned about the problem after Prince Harry raised the issue on the radio broadcast.

The commissioner admitted that the police force was “stretched” and said street violence, including robberies by people on mopeds, was a “big issue”. The Prince had earlier set up an interview on the show with Karl Lokko, a former gang leader, who explained how many youngsters from rundown housing estates joined gangs and the criminal underworld to obtain respect from their community because they had few other options.

Ms Dick insisted that knife crime was beginning to stabilise in the capital, and that moped-related crime was falling. Asked about police numbers, she said: “All the public services are stretched. We are stretched. But, I think we need to focus on what matters most, and at the moment violence on our streets is a big issue for Londoners.

She said her officers had taken thousands of knives off the streets, but added: “If you ask any police chief they will always want more resources, of course they will.

“And I know exactly where I’d put them if I had more resources. And it would be into this issue.”