Metropolitan Police Force Budget Cuts Reciprocated With Gun, Knife Crimes In London

London’s Metropolitan police force lately bring to notice years of budget cuts is to some extent responsible for increase in gun and knife crime in the capital.

The largest police force of Britain said over the past few years the increase has been seen in virtually every category. In 2016 the gun crime rose by 42 percent and the knife crime was up by 24 percent.

Metropolitan’s assistant commissioner Martin Hewitt said, “It would be a naive answer to say that if you cut a significant amount out of an organization, you don’t have any consequences.”

There had been savings of 600 million pounds since 2010 when the Conservatives came to power and it is further to note more 400 million pounds will be saved by 2020.

The overall crime in the capital was about 774,737 offences in 2016, which means an increase of 4.5 percent from the data in 2015.

Hewitt said 16.72 percent crime cases were solved last year, which is down from 18.8 percent the previous year.

Hewitt adds the biggest concern of such crimes is increase in young people carrying knives and a quarter of those are linked to gangs. They keep the knives for various reasons like criminality, social status and self-protection as well.

Meanwhile, London’s mayor Sadiq Khan said he would fight against further budget cuts.