Knife crime has seen an increase in and around London and its boroughs recently. A well reported case was the fatal stabbing of a teenager in Becks Park, Anerley a few weeks back. However, multiple stabbings have happened before and after this case, such as a stabbing in Hayes on the 25th October and one is North End in Croydon, which was also fatal. This took place one day before the stabbing in Becks Park and so the teen stabbed became the 22nd teenager to be killed in 2017.

It is surprising to see this, especially as areas such as Hayes and Beckenham, which also saw a stabbing in its high street, are regarded as fairly nice areas to live, especially as Beckenham has quite expensive housing and a fairly large elderly population.

This, though, would make the elderly a prime target in these areas due to their vulnerability as well as having cash. However, due to teenagers only being stabbed frequently, it could suggest gang crime, which has been a problem in Anerley and its surrounding areas. Muggings, stabbings and break ins are all attributed to gangs and these have also seen a rise, with events like a car ploughing into the front of the Tesco Express in Croydon Road.

The police are trying to do their best to combat this, like asking for witnesses to the crimes (they have recently asked for witnesses to the Hayes stabbing to come forward. If you did or know anything about it that could help, please contact the police immediately). But, they just cannot cope. Even with police patrol cars stalking the streets late at night, the criminals always seem to be a few steps ahead, allowing them to commit their crime and then run. Some do get caught, but most of the time leaving carnage and destruction in their wake.