‘Hundreds more officers’ on patrol as London homicides up 44 per cent

Nearly 160 homicides were recorded on the streets of the capital in 2017/18, up from 109 the previous year, according to statistics published on Thursday (April 26).

Overall violent crime also rose by more than five per cent while knife crime increased by a fifth.

Gun crime offences fell from 2,553 to 2,435 over the period, although the number of incidents where lethal barrelled firearms were discharged increased by 23 per cent.

The figures come amid rising concerns about the rate of fatal stabbings and shootings in London, with more than 50 people killed in the first days of 2018 alone.

Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt, lead for territorial policing, said the force is now “putting more officers on the street” in response to the surge in violence.

“We are doubling our targeted anti-knife crime activity with hundreds more officers on visible patrols in affected communities,” he added.

“But despite our continued focus on reducing knife crime, prevention and diversion will always be key.

“There are complex social reasons why more young people are carrying knives and we have been absolutely clear that knife crime cannot be solved by the police alone. We also need the help and support of London’s agencies and communities who we know are behind us.”

The MPS’s end-of-year crime figures show that 827,225 crimes were recorded in London in the year to March 2018, up from 777,458 in 2016/17 (up 6.4 per cent).

Meanwhile, data from the Office for National Statistics showed overall police recorded crime rose by 13 per cent.

While many offence groups remain lower than they were in 2012, violent crime in particular has increased significantly.

The force recorded over 250,000 violence against the person offences including 157 homicides, eight of which were the result of terror attacks.

Knife crime rose 21 per cent to 14,680 offences, while the number of incidents involving injury increased from 4,446 to 4,700.

However, the MPS claims injuries to under 25s have stabilised, and the offending rate among this age group rose just three per cent compared with a 24 per cent increase in the previous year.

The force has established a Violent Crime Task Force to tackle these offences.

Sex crimes also rose by 11 per cent last year, with recorded rape up by more than 18 per cent.

Meanwhile, the number of burglaries in London increased from 69,528 to 77,626, and robberies rose by 35 per cent.

Mr Hewitt said the MPS will continue “making the streets hostile territory for criminals”.