‘The focus of efforts has to be both policing and youth services’

• YOUR headline story of June 23 (Stabbing in churchyard) reports on yet another fatal stabbing, that makes four in the Paddington Green area in so many years.

So it’s time we acknowledged it as a hotspot for such violent crime in London now, to focus efforts.

The focus of efforts has to be both policing and youth services. The latter particularly requires investment in the locality as it has not recovered since the previous administration of Westminster City Council reduced youth services across the whole borough.

We need to upgrade the facilities and programmes in Little Venice Sports Centre, St Mary’s churchyard and local estates, building upon the boxing classes provided by the local beat police officer.

Giving young boys something else to do is critical, as it was in my day growing up in the neighbourhood.

With the schools yet to close and a hot summer ahead we need to put measures in place urgently. Let us work towards that endeavour.

MURAD QURESHI
@MuradQureshiLDN
www.muradqureshi.com