Politicians condemn lack of sufficient knife crime measures after teenager dies in fight over the weekend
There was anger in Enfield over the weekend after a teenager was stabbed to death following a fight outside a Hindu temple on Hertford Road.
Parliamentary candidates from the two biggest political parties were among those taking part in an anti-knife crime march on Monday.
18-year-old Joao Gomes died in hospital on Saturday night following the fight, which saw two other males suffering from stab injuries.
It is thought to be the fourth murder in the area this year.
The two injured teenagers have since been discharged from hospital. Police said no arrests have yet been made and that an investigation is underway.
Labour’s Joan Ryan and Nick de Bois, the Conservative candidate, both condemned the attacks and accused one another’s parties on knife crime.
“It is completely unacceptable for this to be happening – people in Enfield have a right to feel safe and be safe in their homes and in our neighbourhoods,” Ms Ryan said in a statement on Monday.
“We also have a duty to act to prevent more young people dying or being injured in this way.
Theresa May has made it harder for our police to carry out ‘stop and search’ of youths suspected of carrying knives. And under the Tory Government almost 200 uniformed police officers and PCSOs in Enfield have been axed since 2010.”
Mr de Bois, meanwhile, said: “This is a time for the community to come together. There is no one stop quick fix solution to this hideous problem, but [by] working with some experienced voluntary anti knife campaign groups, the police, schools, community leaders and law makers we can tackle the scourge of knife crime.”
He added: “It is regrettable that the eye has been taken off the ball in the last two years but I am determined to put tackling knife crime at the heart of my work if elected on June 8th.”
Both candidates are hoping to become Enfield North’s next MP at the general election on 8 June.
