THE Mayor of London has promised to use “every resource available” to tackle youth violence in the capital.
Mayor Boris Johnson’s pledge came ahead of the November launch of his Youth Violence Strategy.
He was speaking to 400 people gathered for an annual seminar for the Gangs Guns and Weapons Practitioners Forum yesterday (October 16).
They included representatives from the Home Office, Youth Justice Board and Metropolitan Police as well as ex-offenders, young people and youth workers.
Mayor Johnson said: “I am filled with despair every time I read about another fatal stabbing or shooting.
“It is a tragedy that 27 teenagers have become victims of knife and gun crime this year. Enough is enough - I am adamant that this violence must stop.
“Years of neglect has led to some disaffected young people looking to criminal gangs for the support and guidance they would normally find at home and at school.
“We need to use every resource available to reach out to these troubled teenagers.”
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