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Stabbings on rise but gun deaths are down
Justin Davenport, Crime Correspondent19 Jan 2009
THE number of fatal stabbings in London rose last year as gangs switched from guns to knives.
New figures show there were 83 knife killings last year compared with 74 in 2007. But the number of deadly attacks with firearms fell - from 30 to 17.
Scotland Yard's statistics also show that, overall, there were seven fewer homicides in London last year than in 2007. However, the increase in the use of knives reflects concerns over gang-related youth crime.
Last year a record 30 teenagers were killed. The total includes two who died after fleeing from gangs.
Rosimeiri Boxall, 19, fell from a top-floor window of a hostel in Blackheath while apparently trying to escape from a girl gang, and her death is being treated as suspicious.
Ahmed Benyermak, 16, plunged from a tower block in Hackney while trying to flee a gang. The death is reported as unlawful killing.
The breakdown shows that among teenagers, there were five fewer gun killings last year than in 2007, but five more with a blade.
Two of the knife killings last year were those of Ben Kinsella, 16, attacked in Islington, and David Idowu, 14, who was stabbed in Southwark.
Significantly, there was a major fall in the number of firearms homicides in London's black community - down from 21 in 2007 to 13 last year. But fatal stabbings increased by 12.
Police say the fall in gun deaths is a tribute to the success of Operation Trident, which tackles gun crime in the black community.
One experienced detective said: "We have done a lot of work around guns and there is evidence to say that they are not so easily available as they were. We are seeing the same guns being used again and again, which in the past would never have happened and shows there are fewer in circulation.
"But if someone in a gang wants to harm someone and they cannot do it with a gun then they will do it with a knife." Last year Paul Stephenson, then Met deputy commissioner, announced knife crime had taken over from terrorism as Scotland Yard's number one priority.
The force launched Operation Blunt 2, a high-profile initiative, which included deploying airport-style metal detecting arches and increasing the use of stop and search in the streets.
Since then knife crime has fallen, and there has not been a teenage killing since 8 November last year. Commander Simon Foy, Scotland Yard's head of homicide, said: "We are pleased that the number of gun-related murders has fallen but equally we are still extremely concerned about the increase in knife-related homicide, particularly among young people.
"We are putting a huge effort into trying to tackle this and I think we are beginning to see some effects of the work we have been carrying out with young people and communities. What we hope is that the success we have seen in guns will be replicated in knives."
The total number of homicides in London has fallen for the fifth year in a row, since it reached 222 in 2003.
Reader views (9)
It is so sad the way these youths have the mental capability to murder someone. There is such an easy access to knifes, especially with the world wide web, they can easily purchase plastic knifes from ebay that are as danagerous as a metal one.
- R.Patel, UK, 24/02/2009 10:35
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At least the credit crunch is affecting the criminal classes, now they can't even afford bullets...
- Dannyp, Egham, 20/01/2009 08:02
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Candlestick holders next....
- Trunk, US, 19/01/2009 23:44
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But why has the civilian guns?
We have not allowed to possess firearms
- Bilhem, uk, 19/01/2009 17:04
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"Reassuring to know that we're more likely to be stabbed than shot."
Indeed, and if you are fatally stabbed the prison-sentence tariff starting point is 15 years, whereas if you are fatally shot the prison-sentence tariff starting point is double that at 30 years.
"...with a knife you are up close and very unlikely to miss."
Yet the far greater degree of brutality involved in getting up close and actually feeling the weapon stab into someone's body has been deemed by govt to be 'worth' only a 15 year minimum-prison-term starting point, whereas shooting someone from afar has a 30-year minimum prison-term starting point.
- S Denham, London UK, 19/01/2009 15:35
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"Reassuring to know that we're more likely to be stabbed than shot."
Yes Stev it is as the vast majority of knife incidents do not result in death whereas woth gun shots very many do
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 19/01/2009 11:14
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Steve, I see you sarcasm but you have a point. You are far more likely to die from a stabbing than a shooting.
More often than not if someone fires a gun at another person they will miss, with a knife you are up close and very unlikely to miss.
We have more than a few problems to deal with.
- Liberal Thinker, UK, 19/01/2009 10:59
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I don't see that the weapon being used is that relevant. Would Britain be seen as safer if more people were being beaten to death than stabbed to death.
- Casper Slides, France at the moment, 19/01/2009 10:02
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Reassuring to know that we're more likely to be stabbed than shot.
- Steve, London, 19/01/2009 09:25
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