Statistics for stabbings and shootings have been staggeringly high in recent years, and the trends show no sign in slowing down. And although gun crime had been in decline up until 2014 the statistics have been steadily increasing since then.
London’s crime rate has recently been compared to New York’s, which almost a decade ago would be perceived as a peculiar comparison as New York has always been known as a crime hub.
According to Metropolitan Police data, since 2016 the number of cases has risen from 2,193 to 2,542 until 2017. In fact, shocking statistics suggest that one person stabbed to death every three days in London in 2018.
It’s especially concerning when the shootings we all see on the news get more proximate to us. For example, on the 5th of October, a shooting occurred along Fairholme Avenue, and although nobody was injured or killed, it reinforces society’s underlying fears.
There are two main questions this increase in crime raises, the first one being why the sudden surge? Government and independent research have concluded that drug dealing and social media have been the biggest factors for the increase in violence on our streets.
The second question is what can be done to resolve this ever-growing problem? Charity organisations and the police force are working hard to persuade the government to fund more youth clubs and extracurricular activities to keep young people off the street, and away from a potentially dangerous lifestyle.
To conclude, it’s a combination of the government and our own responsibility to tackle society’s changing attitudes towards violence and ensure that we preserve a safe community!
