Stop knife crime now!

9.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 2nd Aug 2008

Cllr Winnie Smiths talks to local Community Officers

In the wake of last month's tragic stabbings in Leyton and Walthamstow, Leyton and Wanstead Liberal Democrats are calling for urgent action to tackle London's knife culture. Over the last eight years of Labour London government, crimes involving knives have risen to epidemic levels. On average, a teenager is stabbed in London once a fortnight. We can't let this continue. We need to stop demonising children and work with them at street level. Families, schools, the Police, the Council and local people need to work together to rid our streets of knives and the fear of knives. There are a number of initiatives that need to be taken, like the use of knife arches. As a start Leyton Focus Team will be helping to set up more Neighbourhood Watches to let local people help to make our area a safer place.