This week there have been an alarming amount of news stories in the press about rising number of deaths from knife and gang related crime in London.

Around 50 people have also been murdered in London this year and even more shockingly, at least 35 of those people were fatally stabbed.

It was revealed on Wednesday that this is also a national problem as the number of children aged 16 and under being treated for stab wounds in hospitals has soared more than 60 per cent in the last five years.

The Watford Observer spoke to the Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill, MP Richard Harrington and Hertfordshire Police, who all wanted to reassure the public that the town is not experiencing the same crisis as London.

Although this means residents should not be too alarmed to step outside their home, this does not mean people should become too comfortable or complacent about their safety as incidents do still happen.

Surely the latest figures in the press should serve as a wakeup call as so many teenagers seem to be getting caught up in knife-related crime before they have even left school.

There needs to be an alternative outlet for young people to engage with that draws them away from a life of crime in the first place.