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Boris war on knife gangs
Pippa Crerar, political correspondent06.05.08
- Evening Standard comment: The challenges for Mayor Boris
- Commentary: Livingstone often looked bored ... he had run out of ideas
- Andrew Gilligan: The booby traps waiting for Boris
- Will Self: So farewell to Ken's cappuccino fiefdom
- Mayor's first Cabinet signing is inspiring black youth worker
- BNP's Assembly member to be shunned by all parties
- Boris Johnson: My priority from today is to stop these killings
Boris Johnson put tackling youth crime at the forefront of his mayoralty today.
He said he hoped to set up 100 "respect schools" - Saturday courses where troubled teenagers could combine sport and academic subjects. The Mayor conceded that his hardline approach involving "competition, discipline and punishment" would be unfashionable with many Londoners. But he insisted that unless the causes of violent crime were dealt with, the problem would never be solved. Mr Johnson's emphasis on dealing with the spiralling violence that has claimed the lives of 12 teenagers this year alone establishes it as a "make or break" issue for him.
He said: "These teenage killings are not a series of freak events. Each fatal stabbing or shooting is at the apex of a pyramid of violence, thuggery and bullying that is making life less pleasant for everyone in the city." The latest victim was Lyle Tulloch, 15, who was stabbed to death in a block of flats in Southwark hours after Mr Johnson was declared Mayor.
It is believed he was knifed three times, once in the heart, following a dispute over a mobile phone worth £50 outside a party less than a mile from where 10-year-old Damilola Taylor died in November 2000.
Mr Johnson today joined Ray Lewis, his new deputy mayor for young people, and London fire chief Ron Dobson, at a youth project at Dagenham Fire Station. "Life" courses - Local Intervention Fire Education - teach people between 13 and 17 firefighting skills alongside men and women of the fire brigade.
Speaking in Dagenham, Mr Johnson said: "Life courses are one of the London Fire Brigades' most successful youth engagement programmes. These programmes reach out to the young people in our communities and improve motivat ion and confidence.
"I look forward to assisting Life and similar programmes to flourish in the capital."
Writing in the Standard, Mr Johnson pledges to bring in a disciplined approach at Saturday clubs which would help teenagers perform the "hand-brake turn" needed to put them on the path to educational achievement where normal schooling has failed.
The Mayor warned that children were being brought up "without boundaries and without respect" which was leading to disastrous consequences.
He added: "We aren't going to crack our problem unless we systematically attempt to deal with the causes."
Mr Johnson believes that low-level disorder, such as anti-social behaviour and littering, have to be stamped out before they lead to more serious offences. "I am convinced that we can make a real difference to so-calledminor crime, as a way of driving out more serious crime," he said. He said he would lobby for tougher sentencing and would set out more plans for safer transport later this week.
The Mayor has already announced plans to ban travellers from drinking alcohol on the Tube and to begin installing airport-style scanners and knife arches in stations.
He has promised to start the recruitment of 440 extra police to patrol trains and stations. Before he was elected, Mr Johnson also pledged to bring in his PayBack London scheme, where teenagers stripped of their right to free travel would be able to earn it back through community work. Lyle Tulloch's parents today said their son was attempting to turn his life around after being excluded from school and becoming involved in drugs. Yvonne and Tony Tulloch said he dreamed of becoming a lawyer and was involved in local community projects, having been thrown out of Peckham Academy for assault.
Mrs Tulloch, a council worker, said: "Lyle was a very kind and caring person, always there for his family and friends. His school life was interrupted but he overcame this and became a positive role model. He was working on a video to put across the anti-violence message. We were enormously proud of what he had achieved and how far he had come." His father added: "We are struggling to come to terms with this mindless, violent act and the fact that our son has been taken away from us over something like this."
Reader views (12)
There needs to be 'Zero Tolerance' towards knife crime. Other than if they have just bought a knife (and then they should have the receipt stating it was bought that day) there is no valid reason why anybody should be carrying a knife at all. Anyone found carrying a knife should be automatically prosecuted rather than the knife be confiscated and they get a caution. And how about curfews? We need to give a clear message to the young people who are causing these problems that it is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. The Bill on Human Rights is a farce and is being misused - we worry too much about upsetting people. We need a much tougher approach.
- Linda, Croydon Surrey UK
Look I believe it when I see it Boris. I am 15 and seen more deaths in my street than you'll ever imagine, lost more friends than 90year old men. Lyle was a friend of mine and his going to get justice if its the last thing I do....
I am starting my own campaign if anyone's interested.
- Shanice Adams, England london
440 Extra police! And where will he get them from? They will be almost certainly wimpier than the current bunch and then more concerned about whether counselling is available to you and then even more concerned with integrating the latest gangs from Colombia...
Don't you think this needs a cultural shake-up starting with discipline in the home?
- Mark Cleminson, Dublin, Ireland
What an example to us all!
Cycling with no helmet!
- Malcolm Lowe, London UK
Boris, good luck! However, there is one important point I feel should be mentioned. The mothers of these youths must develop self-respect, and the next generation of mothers should respect themselves and demand marriage and not be left as single mothers trying to fend for themselves and their children. Livingstone was a poor example, he fathered five children out of wedlock, but I hope you will generate a renewal of family values.
- Anne Wotana Kaye (Mrs), London England
Just about time someone started to speak out and act to tackle criminality. Keep it up Boris!
- Ric, Brixton
Please, oh please, don't let's expect Boris to change the world in two days. Give him time to unravel the mess, before he can implement his policies. Also, let us concentrate on substance and not trivia, like his hairstyle or clothes.
- Beatriz, London
Boris's quaint belief that Saturday schools can stop teenage killings merely reinforces how out of touch he is with modern London. This muddle-headed buffoon has led a lief of privilege - how can he ever understand what growing up on a rough estate is actually like?
- Charlie, Soho, London
Knife arches? Get real. This is police theatre at the very worst. Such searches have little practical impact on the number of crimes (many such crimes are committed by individuals local to the area, not a tube ride away) - all that these arches serve to do is use up valuable police time which could be better deployed elsewhere, and make travellers' journey times slower.
The police are also reportedly undertaking such scans under anti-terror legislation, which at best is a dubious misuse of the law.
- Mark, Vauxhall, London
Well done Boris, its about time street crime was properly addressed, its a long march, but at least you have taken the first steps, keep up the good work.
- Ray, Islington
I voted Boris. Now, more than ever, I know it was the right choice.
- Paul, Woodford
Well done Boris, a great and most important start, be patient I am sure it will work it is just what we need.
Thank you.
- Raymond, Elstree
