Priest who comforted relatives hits out at lack of police

The Rev Alison Mackay visited relatives of Paul after he was killed in Leytonstone on Good Friday. The 14-year-old was knifed in Langthorne Road and staggered to Buttermere Close where he died. Today the minister of the local United Free Church criticised the absence of police officers and the lack of CCTV in trouble spots. She also revealed her own son had been mugged at knifepoint.

It comes after a second teenager was charged with Paul's murder.

He was also accused of the attempted murder of Paul's 15-year-old friend, Stephen Mafolabomi, who was stabbed and badly wounded. The 14-year-old was appearing at Waltham Forest Youth Court today.

A 13-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in court yesterday charged with the same offences and was remanded to secure accommodation to reappear at the Old Bailey on 24 April.

Ms Mackay said: "I have spoken with, and comforted, the family of Paul Erhahon and have spoken to representatives of the local residents association. Most residents of Leytonstone do not consider themselves to be under siege from gangs; rather, they point to the complete absence of police officers on the streets after 6pm, the lack of CCTV in areas affected by youths congregating and, most importantly, the dearth of youth facilities in the area."

Ms Mackay also told how her son had been robbed twice on his way home from college. In a letter to The Times she said: "My own son has been mugged twice within the last six months, once at knifepoint...This is not fundamentally a problem of gang warfare. This is a problem that has arisen through lack of investment from local and central government in provision for our young people."

Paul was the seventh boy aged between 14 and 18 to have been stabbed or shot dead in London since January.