Suddenly the issue of gang-related violence is everywhere. While the latest tragic deaths have brought it into stark relief, too many people living in London know that this problem didn’t erupt this week; it has been a growing feature of their lives for years.

Not all violent attacks are directly linked to the gangs, but the reality is that the threat of gang violence is now so closely woven into many communities that young people carry knives in the mistaken belief they are protecting themselves.