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Johnson: I'll tackle teen violence problem
Pippa Crerar, Political Correspondent31.03.08
Boris Johnson put tackling teenage murders at the heart of his push to become mayor today.
The Tory candidate accused Ken Livingstone of "shrugging his shoulders" over the problem which has seen 11 deaths in London this year.
He appeared alongside party leader David Cameron at the launch in Edmonton, where three teenagers have been killed in recent weeks. Mr Johnson said: "When you have 27 teenagers being killed last year and another 11 already this year, it is not as if they were all individually victims of a series of freak events.
"We have seen an average of death once a fortnight last year rise to almost one a week in 2008. These deaths are the culmination and the symptoms of something that is going badly wrong in our society."
Mr Johnson has pledged to tackle gun and knife crime through funding community groups and sports schemes. Mr Livingstone has promised more police on the streets and £79 million for youth facilities.
A Standard poll found 73 per cent of Londoners thought crime should be the next mayor's priority.
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Boris, oh Boris. The word opportunist comes to mind. He's got nothing to offer surely.
- Clive, London, UK
If repeating what everyone else has already said is the best that Boris can come up with, I'll stick with Ken thanks.
- Phil Imber, London, UK
