Murder police to visit schools for anti-knife talks

Scotland Yard will send murder squad detectives into schools to warn children they face life in prison if they are involved in gang killings.

The move is part of a Met campaign to tackle knife crime that has seen teenage knife murders drop by half.

Children as young as 14 will be told about "joint enterprise", which allows police to press murder charges against gang members who witness a victim being killed.

Commander Simon Foy, head of the Yard's homicide command, said: "It's beginning to be a very strong deterrent factor." The Yard is also piloting an educational DVD aimed at secondary-aged children.

There have been eight teenage knife murders in London so far this year compared with 22 last year.