A 14-year-old boy died in hospital after being stabbed in a fight on the streets of West Croydon last night.
Crime scene: Police were called to reports of a fight near West Croydon Station at around 6.40pm last night
The boy is the 27th teenaged fatality from knife crime in London in 2021, the worst death toll of this kind since 2017.
The police have launched a murder investigation.
Roads in and around West Croydon Station, including Mead Place and Derby Road, remained closed to motor vehicles and pedestrians this morning as the police treat the area as a crime scene.
A Section 60 order, which gives police increased powers to stop and search, is in place in Broad Green, Fairfield, Waddon, West Thornton, Bensham Manor, Selhurst and Addiscombe West wards.
The police were called to London Road around 6.40pm to what they say were “reports of a fight involving a number of people”.
The police say that officers attended “but no suspects or victims were found”.
In a statement issued this morning, Scotland Yard said, “Shortly after 19:00hrs, police attended a south London hospital after a 14-year-old boy self-presented with stab wounds.
“Despite the efforts of doctors at the hospital, the boy died a short time later. His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.”
The police say that murder detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command are investigating.
Investigation: Supt Andy Brittain
There have been no arrests.
“Detectives would like to speak with anyone who was in the area of London Road and witnessed the fight,” the police said.
Superintendent Andy Brittain, from the South Area Command Unit which covers Croydon, said: “This is a tragic loss of another young life to knife crime. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
“We have worked throughout the night with our colleagues from Specialist Crime to establish what happened yesterday evening, and this investigation remains ongoing.
“I would urge anyone who has information regarding a fight that was seen close to West Croydon Railway Station at about 6.45pm to please come forward and speak with us. We need to identify who was there and what led to a 14-year-old boy being killed.
“Tackling violence remains our top priority but we need your help. A family is grieving; any piece of information you have could be vital in giving them the answers that they so desperately need.
“Local residents can expect to see additional officers in the area and a crime scene is still in place. If you have any concerns, please speak with officers or contact your local neighbourhoods team.”
Any witnesses, or anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101, quoting reference CAD 6179/18Nov, tweet @MetCC or call Crimestoppers, 100 per cent anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Any young people who have information about violence, firearms or knife crime, can visit Fearless where they can pass on information anonymously – your IP address will not be traced. Fearless is part of the Crimestoppers charity, and is also independent of the police.
From our archive: ‘Our failure can be read on the headstones of dead youth’
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a never stop of violence in the streets by young boys ,going around in groups and causing distrubence in and around.day after day ,where is the mothers and fathers of these boys.