The use of stop-and-search by police has fallen under Cressida Dick
As commentators warn London is becoming ‘lawless’ amid an increasing murder toll, the use of stop-and-search by police has fallen under Cressida Dick, it has emerged.
The Metropolitan Police carried out 19,931 stop-and-searches in January and February this year, a drop of some six per cent compared to last year.
This comes despite the Scotland Yard chief pledging to use ‘Al Capone’ tactics to tackle the rise in knife and gun related murders.
There were 65,894 stop-and-searches in the second half of last year, compared with 69,895 during the same period in 2016, according to figures obtained by The Times.
Cressida Dick yesterday said a new task force of 120 officers would target the most violent gang member to remove them from London streets ‘for any crime’.
The police chief made reference to the notorious 1920’s Chicago-gangster – who was finally foiled on tax evasion, after evading numerous murder charges – as an example of how potential violent criminals would be brought down.
The Met Commissioner spoke out after two more murders in London, bringing the total in the capital this year to 55.
The Metropolitan Police has launched 55 murder investigations since the start of January
It came after an 18-year-old man was killed in Hackney, after stumbling towards police officers with knife wounds.
While in neighboring Clapton, a man in his fifties died after being punched in a row at a betting shop.
Ms Dick said the Violent Crime Task Force would target the most violent individuals in crime ‘hotspots’.
Explaining the strategy for reducing the current crime wave sweeping London that has seen dozens of teenager stabbed to death in the capital, Ms Dick said there would be a visible increase in officers on the street.
She said they would be ‘even more pro-active’, as well as police flooding hotspots to disrupt potential gang violence before it begins.
Plus, officers would use intelligence-led stop-and-search and the use of specialist covert tactics.
Finally they would be targeting known violent criminals and feeding intelligence to local officers which they can use in a ‘fast-time way’.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, she said: ‘We will put even more effort into bearing down on violent crime.
‘You will see us being even more pro-active out on the streets. We will have a greater presence in the hotspots of violence and a focused effort, including intelligence-led stop-and-search and the use of specialists in covert tactics.
‘We will be looking to target the people we know are the most dangerous and get the intelligence to our local officers which they can use in a fast-time way.’
Ms Dick’s words came after an 18-year-old man identified as Israel Ogunsola was found fatally wounded by officers in Hackney at about 8pm Tuesday.
He died at the scene half an hour later despite receiving first aid.
The number of violent crimes has increased in the years following heavy cuts to police budgets which
STUDENT WAS 55TH VICTIM OF LONDON’S 2018 MURDER SPREE
Israel Ogunsola was found fatally wounded by officers in Hackney at 8pm yesterday
Israel Ogunsola was found fatally wounded by officers in Hackney at 8pm yesterday, and died at the scene half an hour later despite receiving first aid.
He became the 55th victim of London’s 2018 murder spree.
Two boys both aged 17 were arrested on suspicion of murdering the computer programming student, who was helped by an off-duty paramedic until the London Ambulance Service arrived.
It later emerged a Facebook profile under Israel’s name showed he was friends with Tanesha Melbourne, 17, who was shot dead on Monday evening in Tottenham, North London.