THIS is the chilling moment masked teen gang members boast about carrying knives when talking to the former Met Police chief.
The 19-year-old, who gave his name as “Jackson”, told Lord Bernard Hogan Howe he was armed with a blade when they met in a London alleyway.
He said he joined a gang when he was just 12-years-old and admitted selling drugs and doing “whatever” to make money.
Another teenager, 15, who was also wearing a balaclava, said he has seen people being stabbed on the street in the capital.
When asked by Lord Bernard what he saw, the boy – named "Freddie" – replied: “(It was) Right in front of my eyes. Critical damage, that's all I can say.”
SEVEN YEARS IN A GANG
He added that he saw the victim get stabbed in the “face, chest, arms and legs”.
Jackson, describing what it’s like to be part of a gang in Lawless London, said: “Yeah, I’ve been in a gang, seven years now.
“Whatever to be honest, sell drugs, to make money. Yes, there’s a lot of violence. They call it stepping on toes.”
He said the most popular blade youngsters carry today is a “flick” knife and admitted being armed with one.
Yeah I’ve got a knife now. I don’t want to pull it out though.
Jackson added: “Yeah I’ve got a knife now. I don’t want to pull it out though. You will never see my pulling it out and showing it off.
“If you come to me with a knife, I’m going to pull my one out.”
Freddie said his parents have “always” told him to run from the police.
KILLED OR PRISON
He said: “It’s a risk, but you’ve got to take the risk. I’ve been stopped plenty of times, but you have to run if they come.”
When asked what the penalty is for carrying a knife, he said: “Killed or prison.”
Lord Bernard interviewed the youths for a new Dispatches programme which is looking into the country’s knife epidemic.
It comes as Scotland Yard's Deputy Assistant Commissioner Graham McNulty described a "tragic 10 days in London".
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He said: "We have had a tragic ten days in London where we have seen a number of high profile, violent incidents and our thoughts are very much with the families and friends and indeed the wider communities affected by these tragic events. One incident, one injury, one death is one too many.
"Tackling violent crime remains the Met's top priority and we have been working day and night to make progress
Britain's Knife Crisis: Young, Armed and Dangerous, airs tonight at 8pm on Channel 4.
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