𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Sir Sadiq Khan is under fire over crime in London. Marks and Spencer’s retail director, Thinus Keeve, claimed earlier this week that its customer-facing staff were being subjected to violence and abuse every day, and called for the Government and the Mayor of London to crack down on crime.

The capital saw unrest earlier this week involving an M&S store in Clapham, which saw hundreds of youths swarm high street shops as part of an online trend. In a message on M&S’s website, Mr Keeve criticised ministers and Sir Sadiq, writing: “Without a Government seriously cracking down on crime and a Mayor that prioritises effective policing we are powerless.”

He said he has written to the Mayor, and M&S chief executive Stuart Machin has written to Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, calling for more to be done. Moreover, a 14-year-old boy was shot dead in south-east London this week.

He has been named as Eghosa Ogbebor.

Two boys, aged 14 and 16, and an 18-year-old man have been arrested on suspicion of murder after the incident in Lord Warwick Street, Woolwich, at about 3.40pm on Thursday.

Yesterday, it was reported that armed police guarding Sir Sadiq left a bag of guns outside his home, which was found by a member of the public.

Scaffolder Jordan Griffiths told The Sun that his girlfriend found the bag sitting in a road by the kerbside in south London on Tuesday evening.

Inside the bag was an MP5 semi-automatic Heckler and Koch ­carbine, a Glock pistol, a Taser and ammunition, the newspaper reported.

The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards is reviewing what happened and five officers have been removed from frontline duties.

A spokesperson for Sir Sadiq called it a “very serious incident”, adding that The Met “must now take all steps to ensure an incident like this never occurs again”.

What do you think? Do you feel safe in Sadiq Khan’s London? Vote in our poll below.

Can’t see the poll? Vote via this link.

The Mayor has repeatedly insisted that he is tackling violent crime in London, telling our sister site MyLondon that he views it as an “infection”.

In January, Sir Sadiq said: “Many people have been trying to talk London down, but the evidence tells a very different story. Last year London had the lowest murder rate per capita since records began, the fewest murders of those aged under 25 this century, and one of the lowest number of homicides for almost three decades.

“It’s clear that our sustained focus on being both tough on crime and tough on the complex causes of crime is working. This includes investing in intervention and prevention work led by my Violence Reduction Unit – the first in England. At the same time, we’re supporting the Met by more than doubling City Hall’s investment in policing to help boost police numbers and relentlessly target the worst offenders and criminal gangs.

“But we are not complacent. One death will always be one too many. That’s why I’ll continue to do all I can to invest in the police and provide positive opportunities for young Londoners so that we can build on this significant progress and continue making London safer for everyone.”