Murder detectives from Scotland Yard will visit schools in south London to tell children they face life in prison if they are involved in gang murders.
The scheme is part of a London-wide initiative and is due to be rolled out later this year.
Commander Simon Foy told the Sunday Times that the scheme was part of a wider initiative that has cut teen knife crime by half. He said: “We will be telling them they will get caught and charged with murder if they are involved in any way.”
Last year there were 22 knife killings in London. To date there have been eight this year.
Commander Foy said the success was due to greater use of a legal principle known as joint-enterprise which allowed police to press murder charges against gang members who participate in a murder, even if they do not administer the fatal blow.
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