Southwark knife-capital of London

The latest police figures show that Southwark currently has the highest number of knife incidents and injuries in London. On average there are around 18 knife crime incidents every week in Southwark with a stabbing happening almost every day. Furthermore while knife crime increased by a quarter across the capital over the last year, in Southwark the figures went up by twice as much.

At the next Full Council meeting on Wednesday 25th July the themed debate is Stronger, Safer, More Resilient Communities at which Southwark councillors will be debating what more can be done to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and strengthen our communities.

The Liberal Democrats have tabled an amendment that calls on the administration to pay for the hire of additional police officers and receive match funding under the Mayor’s Met Patrol Plus, to establish a dedicated violent crime unit, under the authority of the Borough Commander, to reduce and pro-actively tackle knife crime in our borough.  This was one of the Liberal Democrats key pledges at the recent local elections.

The Liberal Democrats have also called on the administration to create more opportunities for residents to get involved in building stronger communities through extending opportunities for charities and community & voluntary organisations to deliver services and manage council assets in partnership with the council.  Their amendment cites charities and organisations like Bankside Open Spaces Trust (BOST), who look after green spaces in Borough & Bankside, and Link Age Southwark, who support and befriend older people in the borough, and the added value they deliver through engaging volunteers and the wider community.          

Finally the Liberal Democrats have asked the administration to consider launching a civic pride campaign in Southwark along the lines of People Make Glasgow or We Love Manchester to promote pride in Southwark and build stronger communities.

Cllr David Noakes, the Acting Leader of the Southwark Liberal Democrats Council Group said:

“As someone who has lived in Southwark for over 20 years, works in community safety and has been a victim of knife crime in this borough, I know the current rise in violent crime is at the top of residents concerns. With young people losing their lives or being left with life changing injuries, and many other young people and older residents too scared to walk the streets, this is a problem we have to solve together. To do that we need to invest in our young people, including youth services, give the police additional resources to make our streets safer and strengthen our communities to secure a positive future.”