'We've got to get back to moral code and respect'

Ken Livingstone told the first televised debate between the three mayoral candidates: "This is a generation that has been exposed to horrendous levels of violence in cinema and on television.

"No mayor, no commissioner of police, can stop young people killing each other if they haven't been given a moral code.

"This generation's parents grew up in the Eighties. I was brought up to respect others, to respect the city I lived in, and we've got to get back to those values."

Tory candidate Boris Johnson retaliated, saying it was "tragic" that the Mayor was blaming the problems of 20 or 30 years ago for the gang culture in London. He has challenged Mr Livingstone to "get a grip" on gang violence and show stronger leadership on the issue.

Mr Johnson accused the Mayor of wasting taxpayers' money supporting groups which had so far failed to curb the violence.

Two teenagers have been killed this year, while last year 27 died in London as a result of gang violence.

Mr Johnson told Mr Livingstone: "People want to see you working with those groups across London that are helping those kids. The reason Londoners aren't feeling any safer is that they aren't any safer. Why are you wasting all this money?"

Liberal Democrat contender Brian Paddick, a former Met police commander, also attacked the Mayor on crime, questioning his pledge at the last election to cut it by half in London.

He claimed during the debate - chaired by Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq - that extra police - 31,000 officers compared with 25,000 when the Mayor came to power - had made "not one bit of difference" to real crime levels in London.

But Mr Livingstone claimed that overall the crime rate had fallen and the murder rate had been cut by more than a quarter in the last four years.

"We are arresting more people and winning more convictions," he said.

"Police on the beat are now identifying the kids who have got into trouble. For a generation there weren't police on the streets but the crime figures are falling."

Mr Livingstone antagonised his opponents further when he said beleaguered Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair should be allowed to serve more than one term.

He said: "I've worked with a man who was absolutely true to his word. If it was up to me I'd extend his term."

* You can watch the full debate on London Talking tonight at 11.05pm, ITV1.