Kentish Town stabbing: Murder investigation launched after knifed to death in London street

Victim's next-of-kin have been informed, Scotland Yard says

A man in his 20s was stabbed to death in a north west London street, police said as they launched a murder investigation into his killing.

Officers they found the man with stab injuries in Kentish Town on Monday night. He was pronounced dead at the scene despite the efforts of medics.

No arrests have been made, London's Metropolitan Police said.

Formal identification and a post-mortem examination are yet to take place, but the victim's next-of-kin have been informed, the force said.

His death came hours after Theresa May was told she bore personal responsibility for rising violence in Britain after overseeing years of “unforgivable” cuts to policing at a knife crime summit in Downing Street.

John Apter, the head of the Police Federation said the government had left public services “stripped to the bone” and police “firefighting” stabbings and murders.

“Whilst I fully accept we have to look forward, I think the government and the prime minister in particular has to shoulder some of the responsibility for the government’s failed policies,” said Mr Apter who represents rank-and-file officers.

“What she’s done to policing is unforgivable and she’s now seeing the impact of that.”

Following a spate of fatal stabbings across the country, Ms headed the meeting of police leaders, youth workers, academics and victims’ representatives.

Opening the Serious Youth Violence Summit, which will be followed by days of meetings between ministers and crime experts, Ms May said knife crime was a “top priority for government”.

She added: "In recent months we’ve seen an appalling number of young lives that have been cut short or devastated by serious violent crime, including a number of horrifying incidents which took place just over this weekend. We cannot simply arrest ourselves out of this problem – this is a wider problem. It’s more deep seated and we need to have a more coordinated effort in response to it.”

Anyone with information about the Kentish Town murder can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.