Johnson concerned about post-lockdown crime ‘rebound’
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has expressed concern about “rebounding” crime in London and the country as a whole as the coronavirus lockdown draws to a close.
The PM was speaking in the aftermath of the knife-related murder of Sven Bazdak, who was attacked and killed on Saturday (February 06) in Kilburn, northwest London.
Badzak, 22, was the son of Jasna Badzak, a one-time Tory party activist. She has since shared photos of her son as a child with Tory party leaders including Johnson, former PM David Cameron and former Chancellor George Osborne.
The PM said his thoughts were "very much with [Ms Badzak] and her family in mourning the loss of her son".
Inevitably there will be speculation that Johnson has singled out this particular incident to express his concern about rising crime because of the Tory connections of the murdered individual.
Reacting to Badzak’s murder, the PM said he wants to draw young people away from the “nihilistic” culture of gangs.
However, there is no evidence at this stage that Badzak was involved in gangs. He was on his way to a supermarket when he was stabbed to death.
It is not clear at this stage if Badzak got into as fight or if he was the victim of an unprovoked attack.
Talking about counter-measures, the PM promised a “tough policing response”, notably stop and search, in addition to “proper custodial sentences for young people who go equipped with knives”.
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