Sadiq Khan: London crime victims 'sew up their own knife wounds to avoid hospitals'

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan today said shooting victims are using tweezers at home to remove shrapnel because they fear reprisals from going to hospital.

Mr Khan made the comments as he was handed a curved needle live on LBC radio, which is the sort young people have reportedly been using to sew up their own knife wounds.

Holding up the needle to camera, the mayor said: “Basically this is used for weaving or wigs.

“We’ve also heard examples of people using superglue and using scalpel tweezers to remove shotgun pellets.

Sadiq Khan holds aloft a needle which he says was similar to the type being used by crime victims to sew up their own wounds
LBC

“Just think about the complications there could be from internal bleeding and infections from it spreading. You aren’t receiving the specialist care you need from clinicians but also police and youth workers either.

“Please please please think very seriously about whether you want to do this.”

He made the comments when he was asked by host James O’Brien about their report which found children as young as 14 were sewing up their own knife wounds to avoid going to hospital.

Mr O'Brien said: “It doesn’t matter how many police you put on the streets if victims of crime aren’t talking to them. This is staggering. This is children in the city you are mayor of sewing up each other’s knife wounds because they don’t want to talk to the police.”

The Mayor replied: “The concern many young people have who are using DIY methods of treating themselves is they may be arrested and charged. As well as their concern in relation to personal safety retaliation and reprisals.

“It is I’m afraid something happening far too often in London. This is victims of knife crime treating themselves either with these sorts of weaving wig needles of even using super glue. I’ve heard stories of people using scalpels.

“The two main reasons given by experts is one concern about they could be arrested charged prosecuted but secondly they are worried about someone turning up at A&E or trauma centre from gang B.

“There is a discretion doctors and experts have in A&E to report things to the police if they are concerned. In relation to gunshot wounds they do always and knives they do often.

“My message to a young person, big brother, big sister, aunt, mum dad who knows people treating themselves – it is so dangerous. Honestly. The possibility of infections, internal bleeding it’s just not worth the risk you are taking in relation to self-treating.

“You are taking a risk with your own life, you are taking a risk with you child’s life by allowing him or her to self-treat.”

His comments came as London saw its sixth violent killing in the space of just five days, as a man was stabbed to death in Battersea .

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