Boris Johnson has launched his crime manifesto for London.

The Conservative MP who is hoping to replace Ken Livingstone as London's mayor in May's election says he wants to see more cops on public transport.

He also pledged to tackle gun and knife crime as a priority.

Speaking at the launch of his manifesto yesterday Mr Johnson said: "I want London to maintain its position as the world's number one financial centre. I want us to encourage the brightest and the best to come here. I want pensioners to feel safe to venture from their homes. I want people to believe it is worth reporting crime. I want the knives and guns off our streets.

"Today I set out my plan to make London safer. A plan that tackles a range of issues from bad behaviour on public transport to the way our communities are planned and built.

"I reject the fatalism and defeatism of the Labour Mayor. I reject the assumption that we can do nothing."

Mr Johnson promised to trial live CCTV on buses and having an extra 50 British Transport Police (BTP) at outer London's most crime-ridden stations.

Lib Dem opponent Brian Paddick, a former police officer, branded Mr Johnson "clueless about crime" and pointed out the mayor had no control over the budget of the BTP.

Mr Livingstone said the manifesto was hypocritical since Tories had voted against every budget which increased police numbers.

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