Last week, TheBlaze reported the number of murders in London, a traditionally safe city, surpassed the number of murders in New York City in February and March for the first time in modern history. The murders were mostly carried out in stabbing attacks with knives.
Now, London Mayor Sadiq Khan is taking action — by implementing knife control.
In response to the spike in crime, Khan deployed over 300 additional London police officers to the city's most crime-ridden neighborhoods to stop and search anyone they suspect is carrying a knife. In the U.S., such policies are very controversial and possibly violate the Fourth Amendment, but in England, police are able to stop and search anyone they suspect is carrying a knife.
The "tough, immediate" measures also ban home deliveries of knives and acid, two of the most common weapons in London today.
Also, Khan has established a "violent crime task force" with 120 officers that will "focus solely on violent crime, weapon-enabled crime and serious criminality." He's also investing more than $150 million in London's police department and $50 million in a youth program designed to steer youth away from violent crime.
"No excuses: there is never a reason to carry a knife. Anyone who does will be caught, and they will feel the full force of the law," Khan wrote on Twitter, sharing his new policies.
According to United Kingdom law, it is illegal for any U.K .resident to carry "without good reason" a knife with a folding blade larger than three inches. Using a knife in a "threatening way" is also illegal.
"Folding blades" do not include pocket knives and multi-tools, according to the law. Knives that have a lock are completely illegal to carry in public.
Adults found guilty of violating the knife laws are subject to four years in prison.
During his mayoral campaign in 2015, Khan said he would do "everything in my power to cut stop and search," claiming it "undermines" public confidence in local government and policing systems.
But now, as violent crime surges, Khan calls stop and search a "vital tool" to combat London crime.
