Violent knife crime spikes as soon as kids leave school gates, warns surgeon

VIOLENT knife crime is spiking as soon as kids leave the school gates, a trauma surgeon has warned.

Duncan Bew, who works at Kings College Hospital, London, said the victims of horrific knife attacks were getting "younger and younger".

Mr Bew, one of the founders of a project to reduce gang violence, has said there is a contest for what is known as "ratings" in young groups.

He said yesterday that there were "spikes in violent activist when people come out of the school gates" due to the rise of young kids in gangs.

His comments come after the London Mayor warned of a summer knife crime crisis to come as kids on their holidays get bored.

Sadiq Khan said all the evidence pointed to increases in the summer months - and this year would be no exception.

Speaking as he launched Labour plans for a new national youth service today, Mr Khan admitted that the violent crime epidemic in London is far from being cracked.

More than 80 people have been murdered in the capital in London so far this year - with 16 of those being teenagers.

He told ITV London news: "I am worried by evidence from previous years... the last few decades have shown that in July and August, long days, hot days... some young people, bored, stand on the street corner getting involved into anti-social behaviour and criminality."

Mr Khan said the mix of circumstances were a "cocktail of things that can lead to crime going up".

The Sun Online revealed last week how knife crime, rapes and petty thefts all exploded in the summer months last year - compared to the same in the winter.

Overall there were an extra 70,000 crimes committed over the summer than over the winter last year, with violent attacks up 34,000.

But despite figures earlier this month showing murder rates skyrocketing to a ten-year-high in Britain, Mr Khan said the London crime rate has begun to "stabilise".

Echoing comments made by London Met Police Chief Cressida Dick today, he said there had been fewer killings in June and July than at the start of the year.

"I think we are seeing some stabilisation of violent crime in London," Mr Khan claimed.

"No, I don't think (we've cracked it)," he admitted. "It will take some time to say we've cracked it."

Just last week 18-year-old rapper Latwaan Griffiths died after being stabbed in Camberwell - and detectives think he was targeted by a rival gang.

Tory Assembly Member Andrew Boff said today the Mayor still had yet to regain control of London's streets.

He said: "The figures don't lie - London is a more violent place this year than last year."