Met boss Sir Ian Blair has backed the Stop Knife Crime campaign.
Speaking after the Kingston Racial Equality Council annual general meeting in New Malden last night, Sir Ian said the campaign was "exactly right".
"To have 15 teenagers murdered in London in six months is fundamentally unacceptable," Sir Ian said.
"We are seeing a rise in the proportion of the number of people under 18 who are charged with offences of violence.
"We have seen a spate of teenage murders both with knives and guns, which is intolerable."
Sir Ian said the police could not tackle knife crime alone.
"One of the things we have got to do is get community engagement around stop and search," he said.
"If these weapons are being carried, our research shows young people want the knives to be found.
"What would be wonderful would be to have zones which say this is a stop and search zone by community consent'.
"We've got to stop this.
"If you have a knife you are more likely to be hurt."
To see more of Sir Ian's comments click here
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