Mayor Sadiq Khan’s assertion that mobile phone thefts are driving knife crime in London sparked criticism online.
During his appearance on Sky News, Khan linked the rise in knife crime to mobile phone robberies, leading to a backlash on social media.
Critics questioned his handling of the issue, with some highlighting recent incidents of violence. (Trending: Transgender Actor ‘Purposefully Misgendered’ By Airline Employee)
After a couple of softball questions about #NewYear2024, Sadiq Khan gets roasted on the appalling increase in knife and gun crime in London on his watch.
Even Sly News have had enough of the useless pillock!
I don't think he was expecting that. pic.twitter.com/WKxwA5pi1O
— Lee Harris (@addicted2newz) December 31, 2023
Khan said, “The biggest personal robbery is of mobile phones. We know 20 or 30 years ago car manufacturers managed to reduce the theft of car stereos, reduce the thefts of the TomToms from cars by designing away the possibility of doing so.”
“That’s because they try to steal the mobile phones,” added the mayor.
While Khan emphasized a decrease in certain categories of knife crime, others challenged his approach and effectiveness.
“After a couple of softball questions about #NewYear2024, Sadiq Khan gets roasted on the appalling increase in knife and gun crime in London on his watch. Even Sly News have had enough of the useless pillock! I don’t think he was expecting that,” wrote Lee Harris.
Political commentator Alex Armstrong commented, “Just last night, New Years Eve, while Sadiq Khan was praising himself for the ‘work’ he’s done in London, a 16 year old boy was stabbed to death. He needs to go NOW.”
“What exactly is the difference between mobile phones in London and those in Birmingham and Manchester @SadiqKhan? Why do they lead to increase knife crime here but a decrease up north?” asked former Mumford & Sons musician Winston Marshall.
Additionally, he mentioned efforts to combat phone robberies through collaboration with authorities and mobile phone manufacturers.
“So if you can make a second-hand phone useless to a robber or a thief that means the temptation to do so is going away. Enforcement’s really important, so we’re using data now to make sure we have police officers targeting those parts of our city which we know are…hotspots. So it’s a combination of using data to target the hotspots, town centers, transport hubs, but also working with the mobile phone manufacturers and the platforms to make sure there is no resale value of a phone,” explained Khan.
Despite defending his record and emphasizing the reduction in homicide rates and youth injuries, Khan acknowledged the persistent challenge of violent crime and called for national action and investment to address its underlying causes.
Khan said, “It’s clear that violent crime remains far too high and there’s much more to do. One life lost to violent crime will always be one too many and I’m determined to continue making progress by being both tough on crime and tough on the complex causes of crime.”
“I will also continue to put pressure on the Government to play its part in reducing violent crime, which is clearly a national problem that requires action and investment on a national scale on the police and criminal justice system as well as helping to address the underlying causes – like poverty, inequality, social alienation and a lack of opportunities,” concluded Khan.
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