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Gaffe: Ken has been accused of 'gross insensitivity' over his comments on the media coverage of teenage crime

Ken: I don't feel responsible for violence

Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor
28.03.08

Ken Livingstone today insisted he did not "feel responsible" for teenage murders - fuelling a row in which he was accused of "crass insensitivity".

The Mayor compounded comments made within hours of the two teenage deaths yesterday when he said "if it bleeds, it leads" the news.

As he launched his crime manifesto in Kilburn this morning, less than a mile from the scene of 14-year-old Amro Elbadawi's death, the Mayor was asked if he felt responsible in relation to the deaths.

He replied: "I do not feel responsible." The Mayor was accused of "crass insensitivity" by rival Boris Johnson over his dismissal of teenage violence in an interview with BBC London last night.

Mr Johnson lambasted the Mayor and said it was a damning indictment that he was not even aware of two murders on London streets. "This is a Mayor who is clearly out of touch. He either has no idea what is going on in his own city or he is lying," Mr Johnson said. Liberal Democrat-Brian Paddick said: "Livingstone has said there is nothing he or any commissioner of the police can do about it.

"If that's the case it's time for Livingstone to make way for a man that can."

Despite the storm, Mr Livingstone said he would continue to use the phrase - which stems from US TV stations - but said that he had not intended any offence to the families of those killed. "I will continue to use the phrase until I start seeing on TV and in the papers a celebration of whenever crime is coming down," he said. "If anyone is offended in any of the families of the bereaved then of course I feel for them."

Mr Livingstone said on BBC London: "You have a base pattern on TV, radio and newspapers that 'if it bleeds, it leads'. Sometimes I switch on and watch your programme and its crime, crime, crime. I never switch on and see a headline saying 'murder rate cut 28 per cent, rape down 25 per cent, crime falling five years in a row'. You don't report the good news. A lot of people out there are worried (about crime) because they don't get a balance."

The row over his remarks came as the Mayor unveiled his 15-point crime manifesto for London, pledging to cut it by 24 per cent over the next four years and tackle gang violence and rape.

Among Mr Livingstone's crime policies are: 1,000 extra police next year to boost counter-terrorism work and local Safer Neighbourhood Team; extra cash for specialist police teams investigating rape in every borough; 11 new Safer Transport Teams focusing on stopping crime and anti-social behaviour on buses, more resources for targeted police operations against gangs and £79 million to fund facilities and activities for young people.

HOW THE OTHER CANDIDATES PLAN TO TACKLE CRIME

BORIS JOHNSON: The Tory candidate says tackling knife and gun crime would be a priority as Mayor. He would use all his powers to prevent it through funding community groups and sports schemes. Mr Johnson believes tackling small-scale anti-social behaviour stops young people going on to more serious crimes. He would employ 50 extra transport police and 440 more community support officers to patrol buses and Tube trains. He would give the public access to electronic crime maps, showing hotspots for each area, and police would get mobile scanners to help detect weapons without having to search suspects.

BRIAN PADDICK: The former police officer has pledged to cut crime in London by five per cent every year in his first term. The Lib-Dem candidate says it is important to meet young people and listen to their views on knife crime. He wants professional keyboard operators to input crime reports, freeing up police to radio in crimes. Mr Paddick would introduce intelligence-led stop-andsearch operations to intercept guns and knives. He has also backed Merseyside Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe's plea for judges not to overlook mandatory five-year sentences for firearms possession.

SIAN BERRY: The Green candidate has pledged extra officers for community policing so Safer Neighbourhood Teams can work around the clock. A pilot in Fulham showed this halved burglaries and that the teams are ideally placed to prevent violent crime. To help free up officers for community duties, she would reduce the policing of demonstrations and make commercial events pay for their policing. As much of the knife and gun crime prevention work is done in the voluntary sector, she plans to award grants for a minimum of three years to give more security to vital projects.

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Brain, its up to the parents to stop the little monsters running with knives. We can do something, send the monsters home, along with their parents. You might have noticed that most of the monsters are not at all English. Its time to send them home.

- Chris, X Harrow, England

Oh Livingstone you poor deluded little man. Of course you are to blame, it is you who keeps telling us what great things you are doing for this city and that it is you who is in charge. Well the buck stops with that person who is in charge and that dear boy is you so stop blaming everyone but yourself, it's a big man who can accept responsibility for the good things and it's an even bigger man who can own up to the bad things, get a grip.

- Frank,, Chelsea.

Ken Livingston is only repeating a saying I must have heard a thousand times during my years as a reporter: If it bleeds, it leads; if it's on fire, run it higher. I'm not suggesting this excuses his performance as mayor, but the media are being disingenuous if they criticize Livingston for using the kind of language they bandy about daily.

- Judy, Toronto, Canada