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London gang speaks of violence in the capital as govt brings in measures to curb knife crime

A north London gang member tells Sky News he would be dead within a "couple of days" if he did not carry a knife as new measures to tackle an increase in violence are introduced.

The comments come amid sustained pressure on ministers over knife crime following a surge in serious violence, including fatal stabbings.

London suffered a particularly bloody 2018, while figures released last week showed police-recorded violent crime had risen by nearly a fifth in England and Wales.

A 17-year-old stabbed to death on Tuesday in Islington, north London, is the latest victim of the capital's violence.

Sky News met with a gang in north London to find out why they carry knives.

The gang leader told us: "If I don't carry as knife I'd die in a couple of days. I didn't choose this life - this life chose me.

"If the prime minister could come up with some sort of opportunity, I would push the youths out there, but they've got nothing to do.

"What they gonna do? Sit on the streets wasting their lives? What else can they do? I'd tell Theresa May to put some money into the youths."

Another gang member shed light on retribution killings in the capital.

"If someone touches me, my whole gang is going to come to you - your whole family is getting killed," he said.

"If you touch me, I'm touching your whole family, if you touch my bredrin I'm coming after you."

The gang leader spoke of their work as hitmen for hire.

"I've got people that will call me and say they want someone hurt," he said. "They make a phone call and we get it done.

"These thing do happen, I'm not afraid to put it out there. That's the life I live."

The comments come with Home Secretary Sajid Javid set to give new powers to police to tackle knife crime.

He has unveiled ASBO-style orders which will place restrictions on suspected gang members and knife carriers.

Knife Crime Prevention Orders could be issued to anyone aged 12 or over who is believed by police to routinely carry a blade.

The orders will impose restrictions on their use of social media - often a source of conflict between rival gangs.

Subjects could also be required to abide by curfews and geographical restrictions, and attend knife crime awareness courses.

These measures would be tailored to the individual case, but they could limit access to particular sites or ban contact with specific people online.

The authorities have often blamed social media spats for causing violence to spill on the streets.

Although they are civil orders, breaches will be a criminal offence that could result in up to two years in prison upon conviction.

Police will apply for the orders in the courts and, if approved, they will last for a maximum of two years, with reviews carried out after 12 months for adults or more frequently for juveniles.

But shadow home secretary Diane Abbott believes the new measures will not address the problem.

She said: "These knife crime orders may well be too little too late because they're taking place against the background of deep cuts in youth services and also cuts to the numbers of police officers."