Mayor 'doesn't feel responsible' for latest London teen murder » Local Government » 24dash.com

London Mayor Ken Livingstone today said he did not feel responsible for the death of a 14-year-old killed in a street stabbing.

Mr Livingstone was speaking during the launch of his policing manifesto in Kilburn, north-west London, pledging a 6% reduction in crime each year for the next four years.

In nearby West Kilburn yesterday 14-year-old Amro Elbadawi died after being attacked just yards away from where neighbours said he lived.

Earlier yesterday another teenager was killed in Stamford Hill, also in the capital.

Speaking in a branch of Caffe Nero, following a walkabout with police, Mr Livingstone was asked if he felt responsible in relation to the deaths. He said: "I do not feel responsible."

He said that crime generally was going down.

"The only area we have got a serious increase is the tragic youth murders," he said.

Mr Livingstone spoke about the duty of parents, teachers and the media.

He said films were not edited for violence because people were terrified of upsetting Hollywood.

Mr Livingstone talked about the problem of children "growing up without any sense of right or wrong."

He said neighbourhood police teams were getting to know youngsters by name.

Despite London Mayor hopeful Boris Johnson calling for Mr Livingstone in London's Evening Standard to withdraw his phrase, "if it bleeds it leads", Mr Livingstone said he would carry on.

He said he would continue using the phrase, which refers to the media's news priorities until he saw a celebration of crime going down.

He was asked about whether the phrase was insensitive and he said of the families of the bereaved: "Of course I feel for them".

Mr Livingstone described Mr Johnson as the most formidable opponent he had ever faced, "because he's a TV personality".

But he added: "The city can't afford a mayor who doesn't get the judgment call right the first time."

Speaking about singer Madonna who has reportedly criticised Mr Livingstone's policies, he said: "I'm surprised she's unhappy... she chooses to live in London because it's the greatest city on earth...

"You can't have one law for Madonna and another for somebody else."

Mr Livingstone received a mixed response on the streets of Kilburn.

This ranged from many people shaking his hand to one who shouted "Ken you f***er".

Mr Livingstone's manifesto for a safer London - Policing London In The 21st Century - announces the deployment of extra resources in five areas.

These are: building up London's defences against terrorist attack; dealing with the issue of murders of young people; continuing progress in crimes against women; dealing with drug crime; and continuing progress to ensure the make up of the Met reflects London.

Mr Livingstone said the central pledge to continue to reduce crime by 6% a year over the next four years was realistic.

He said: "This pledge can be made entirely realistically on the basis of the policies which have already resulted in crime in London falling for five years in a row.

"The rate of decline is accelerating with crime falling by 1.9% in 2004, 4.4% in 2005, 5.9% in 2006 and 6.1% in 2007."

He said the average annual decline in crime for the last three years is 5.5%.

The number of murders in London has fallen every year for the last five years from 222 in 2003 to 160 last year.

He said rape and gun crime had also fallen and racist crime has been reduced by 55% while he has been in office.