Murders in London spiral
Source: Kenneth Vellinga on Unsplash
London murder rate overtakes New York for first time ever after spate of fatal stabbings and shootings
London's murder rate has overtaken New York City's for the first time ever, according to a new report.February marked the first month the UK capital saw more murders than New York, with 15 dead (nine aged 30 or younger).
According to the report in the Sunday Times, London also suffered 22 fatal stabbings and shootings in March, higher than the 21 in the Big Apple.
Both cities have similarly sized populations of around 8.5m people. New York City's murder rate has decreased by around 87 per cent since the 1990s.
Meanwhile, London's has grown by nearly 40 per cent in just three years, not including deaths caused by terrorist attacks.
On Saturday a murder probe was launched after a 36-year-old woman was killed in what is believed to be the 30th incident of fatal knife crime in the capital this year.
The death came just hours after a man 23-year-old man died after being stabbed in the neck in Plumstead, south-east London on Thursday evening. Jacob Whittingham, charity head of programmes for Fight for Peace, told the paper: "What's scary about London is the randomness of the crime.
With young people in London, you have no idea if and when you may be the victim of a violent crime — that's why they feel the need to carry weapons."
Britain's most senior police officer recently said social media was partially to blame for the soaring rate of knife crime in the UK.
Met Commissioner Cressida Dick said websites and mobile phone applications such as YouTube, Snapchat and Instagram were partially to blame for the bloodshed.
Fatal stabbings in England and Wales are now at their highest levels since 2011, rising by 12 per cent in the year ending December 2017.
Comments
It seems incredible to me that london exceeds NY in index of criminality. Especially because in London firearms are not allowed and in NY yes. In London they use knives. And it's typical of young people. What I do not understand is why social networks are partly to blame.
I just think we live in Madrid. Knife and gun crime are much less common here.
Having said that, the other day a man was shot dead around the corner from where I live.
I can only speculate at the connection they make between social networks and these crimes. Youngsters may use the internet to make threats, encourage the carrying of knives, incite hatred and so on.
It seems incredible to me that the crime rate in London exceeds New York's, especially because firearms are not allowed in London while in NY it is legal to carry them. In London they use knives. And it's common among young people. What I do not understand is why social networks are partly to blame.
It’s very worrying that London’s murder has grown by nearly 40 per cent in just three years and this rate not including deaths caused by terrorist attacks. Murders by terrorist, better, assassinations by terrorist have grown in London, as everybody knows. That is, violent deaths in London are a big problem for London’s people and for all citizens of the United Kingdom. I can see that murders whether increase in London and Wales but don’t increase in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Jacob Whittingham, charity head of programmes for Fight for Peace, said that “what´s scary about London is the randomness for the crime”. This is more worrying yet because murderers kill without objective. It’s killing by killing. Everybody can be object of murders and everybody can be murdered. This means that murders have lost their mind.
Met Commissioner Cressida Dick said that websites and mobile phone application were partially to blame for the bloodshed. It’s a surprise for me. I don’t understand that this websites can be guilty but I think that, if it’s like that, the government should do something to avoid crimes. In other ways, the media and social network should think their role.
Be careful, homicides (murders) are increasing 50 per cent in Madrid in 2018.
See you.
London is undoubtedly a vibrant city but I wouldn't like to live there - too much stress.
It’s very worrying that London’s murder rate has grown by nearly 40 per cent in just three years and this rate doesn't include deaths caused by terrorist attacks. Murders by terrorist, better, assassinations by terrorist have grown in London, as everybody knows. (I disagree. The threat is real but you are unlikely to end up a victim of terrorism on a visit to London. What is more, I believe that terrorists are murderers, not assassins.) That is, violent deaths in London are a big problem for London’s people and for all citizens of the United Kingdom. I can see that murders have increased in London and Wales but haven't increased in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Jacob Whittingham, charity head of programmes for Fight for Peace, said that “what´s scary about London is the randomness of crime”. This is yet more worrying because murderers kill without objective. It’s killing for killing's sake. Anybody can be a target and end up being murdered. This means that murderers have lost their mind. (I'm not clear what you mean here)
Met Commissioner Cressida Dick said that websites and mobile phone application were partially to blame for the bloodshed. It’s a surprise for me. I don’t understand how these websites can be at fault but I think that, , the government should do something to prevent crimes. Anyhow, the media and social network should consider their role.
Be careful, homicides (murders) have increased by 50 per cent in Madrid in 2018.