New figures published today have shown the steep falls in the detection rates of a range of serious crimes including murder, firearm offences, knife crime offences and rape. A fall in the 'sanction detection rates' means fewer offences are resulting in a prosecution (charge, caution or warning). The figures, which come from written answers from the Mayor of London, show sanction detectio...

Boris Johnson admitted in an interview with LBC this morning that 1,700 police officers have been cut from Scotland Yard in the last two years. A spokesperson for Ken Livingstone said; "Londoners will have been shocked to hear Boris Johnson admitting that he has cut 1,700 police officers whilst robbery, knife crime and burglary were all rising in London. Only a Mayor who is completely out of touch...

Tessa Jowell said today; "This poll shows that Boris Johnson is increasingly out of touch with Londoners facing a squeeze in their living standards. They know that under Boris Johnson, fares have gone up; violent crime including knife crime and robbery are rising while the numbers of police keeping Londoners safe are being cut. Ken will put Londoners first by cutting bus, tube and train fares and ...

Ken Livingstone said today; "It is shocking that Boris Johnson has cut 1,370 police officer posts in the last year while violent crimes whilst robbery, burglary and knife crime were rising. The Tory Mayor's own policing documents show the overall number of police officers are set to fall even further by 2014. "Londoners want to see the Mayor to use the new responsibilities to put more police ...

Youngsters on whether new guidelines will make any difference

As the Government announced its gang's strategy, London MP and Shadow Home Affairs Minister Stella Creasy questioned whether Boris Johnson was up to leading for London on tackling knife crime. She said: "Time and time again, Boris Johnson doesn't seem to be able to get his facts right on this critical issue. He said when he was elected that he would never accept 'defeat' in the...

The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill returns reaches Report stage in the Commons this week. And before the eye-catching business of knife crime sentences and no-win-no-fee solicitors comes up on Tuesday and Wednesday, we get legal aid and the possibility of a Lib Dem rebellion.

A pilot scheme which saw knife-carrying reduced by more than a third is to expand into six new areas of Scotland.

Justice Secretary Ken Clarke unveils proposals for mandatory two-strike life sentence for "serious" violent and sexual crimes, and prison sentences for knife crime.

Clarke backs judicial discretion in sentencing juveniles for knife crimes