London violence: Knife imagery in the capital 'creates a sense of fear'

Thirty teenagers were killed in London last year - 27 of them were stabbed to death

Young Londoners have warned images of knives posted by police on social media can "create a sense of fear".

A group of young people working with London's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has commissioned research into the impact of images of seized knives that are published online.

It comes after 30 teenagers died in homicides in the capital last year - the highest figure this century.

VRU director Lib Peck said it was "championing" young people's concerns.

The Young People's Action Group within the VRU wants to better understand whether their concerns are shared by a wider group of young people in London.

City Hall said the research, expected to be published by spring, would examine the perception of knife carrying in London and young people's response to knife imagery.

Tyrell Davis-Douglin, 21, from Croydon, explained part of the VRU's approach would also include effective rehabilitation being offered to knife users to help them change their behaviour.

He said: "We want to investigate the impact of police posting images of large knives recovered in our local communities.

"What we have heard from other empowered young women and men is that posting images of knives on social media platforms creates a sense of fear - there are better way to achieve the goal of removing dangerous weapons and reducing violence."

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City Hall said the findings would complement and provide a specific context to research commissioned by the Scotland, South Yorkshire and Thames Valley VRUs.

These police forces no longer publish images of knives on their social media accounts for fear that they are making the public more worried about knife crime.

Ms Peck added: "Those engaged in our programmes have made it clear that posting images of knives seized by the police often heightens the sense of fear in our communities."

A Met Police spokeswoman said the force welcomed the debate around the sharing of images of knives by police on social media.

She said: "While some believe it is necessary to show them, others feel it may encourage some to carry knives.

"The number one priority of the Metropolitan Police is tackling violence in all its forms, and taking potentially lethal weapons off the streets is central to this mission.

"We believe that used appropriately images of knives and similar weapons highlight the seriousness of the challenge and how we are tackling it."

She added "several" academic studies were examining the potential impact, and the Met was waiting for these to conclude before considering if any changes were needed.

Green Party Assembly Member Caroline Russell, who has been campaigning on the issue since 2017, urged the mayor to listen to the young people on City Hall's Violence Reduction Unit when they said the images were harmful and that they encouraged young people to "tool up".

"What further proof does the mayor need that young people are worried about this?" she said.

"The Assembly recently voted unanimously, cross-party, in support of my call that the mayor must ask the Met to pause sharing images of scary knives on police social media accounts.

"It's crucial to the lives of young Londoners that he acts urgently on this."