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| Knife death sparks police pledge | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Metropolitan Police Commissioner has vowed to step up police efforts in combating knife crime in the wake of the death of 16-year-old Ben Kinsella. | The Metropolitan Police Commissioner has vowed to step up police efforts in combating knife crime in the wake of the death of 16-year-old Ben Kinsella. |
| Ben, 16, was stabbed in Holloway, north London, on Sunday. Three youths are still being questioned over his murder. Three others are on bail. | |
| Speaking at City Hall, Sir Ian Blair said the community needed to reach out to teenagers and their parents. | Speaking at City Hall, Sir Ian Blair said the community needed to reach out to teenagers and their parents. |
| Ben is the 17th teenager to be killed in London since the start of the year. | Ben is the 17th teenager to be killed in London since the start of the year. |
| Everybody is shocked by the level of violence we are seeing, particularly towards young people in London Boris Johnson, mayor | Everybody is shocked by the level of violence we are seeing, particularly towards young people in London Boris Johnson, mayor |
| Sir Ian expressed his "deep sadness" at the death of the teenager and said he death would see police "rededicate efforts to stop others dying". | Sir Ian expressed his "deep sadness" at the death of the teenager and said he death would see police "rededicate efforts to stop others dying". |
| He re-emphasised his support for the London Mayor Boris Johnson's overall approach, but said some factors went beyond policing. | He re-emphasised his support for the London Mayor Boris Johnson's overall approach, but said some factors went beyond policing. |
| Sir Ian said: "We need as the whole community of London to reach out to young people and their parents to get rid of the knives on our streets and provide them with alternatives to crime and gang membership." | Sir Ian said: "We need as the whole community of London to reach out to young people and their parents to get rid of the knives on our streets and provide them with alternatives to crime and gang membership." |
| He said he admired those who organised a demonstration in Islington following Ben's death. | He said he admired those who organised a demonstration in Islington following Ben's death. |
| Hundreds of teenagers marched through the suburb on Tuesday to protest against knife crime. | Hundreds of teenagers marched through the suburb on Tuesday to protest against knife crime. |
| Alongside Mr Johnson, Sir Ian unveiled the results of a crackdown on knife crime called Operation Blunt 2 at City Hall. | Alongside Mr Johnson, Sir Ian unveiled the results of a crackdown on knife crime called Operation Blunt 2 at City Hall. |
| 'Gang membership' | 'Gang membership' |
| They revealed that more than 1,200 people were arrested on suspicion of possessing weapons and other suspected knife-related crimes between May 19 and June 29 this year. | They revealed that more than 1,200 people were arrested on suspicion of possessing weapons and other suspected knife-related crimes between May 19 and June 29 this year. |
| A total of 528 knives were recovered as a result of 26,777 searches. | A total of 528 knives were recovered as a result of 26,777 searches. |
| Boris Johnson said Operation Blunt was only one area in which the authorities were working to make London safer. | Boris Johnson said Operation Blunt was only one area in which the authorities were working to make London safer. |
| He said: "Everybody is shocked by the level of violence we are seeing, particularly towards young people in London, and we must all work as hard as we can together to reverse this dreadful trend." | He said: "Everybody is shocked by the level of violence we are seeing, particularly towards young people in London, and we must all work as hard as we can together to reverse this dreadful trend." |
| Operation Blunt 2 was introduced by Sir Ian Blair in response to the recent number of killings, particularly among teenagers, in London. | Operation Blunt 2 was introduced by Sir Ian Blair in response to the recent number of killings, particularly among teenagers, in London. |