Five children shot or stabbed in London daily

London, Jan 16 (UNI) Five children are either shot or stabbed here every day, shocking new figures revealed.

Details of the number of children injured but not killed in assaults revealed a shocking hidden scale of violence.

The statistics, obtained under Freedom of Information rules, come as the Metropolitan police revealed that crime overall is falling in the British capital.

The total number of offences fell by six per cent last year but senior officers said they are still disturbed by the level of violence involving children, particularly teenagers.

The Daily Mail quoted Commander Shaun Sawyer, head of the Met's Violent Crime Directorate, as saying, ''We are winning on many fronts, knife crime overall is down and the number of robberies down, but we know we have a challenge in youth crime.

''This year tackling violent young offenders continues to be a major priority. We are going to take on violent criminals, whether adults or juveniles, members of gangs or individuals.'' Senior police officers admitted the figures were disturbing, but said the number of attacks involving children was now falling after campaigns to tackle youth violence.

Commander Sawyer said, ''We are carrying out robust action on the streets to tackle gangs and take on violent individuals on estates and across London.'' UNI XC SKB MSJ KP1811