A heated exchange unfolded at City Hall as London Assembly member Neil Garratt challenged Mayor Sadiq Khan during a live session focused on rising concerns over knife crime in the capital.

What began as a routine question quickly developed into a tense confrontation, with Garratt pressing the Mayor on recent statistics, police resources and the effectiveness of existing crime-reduction strategies. The exchange drew repeated reactions from members across the chamber as interruptions and strong remarks followed from both sides.

Garratt argued that Londoners are increasingly worried about safety in their neighbourhoods and demanded clearer answers on whether current policies are delivering measurable results. He pointed to figures he said showed continued pressure on frontline policing and questioned how the Mayor intends to reverse long-term trends.

In response, Sadiq Khan defended the City Hall approach, highlighting investment in youth programmes, violence reduction initiatives and cooperation with the Metropolitan Police. He also stressed that tackling serious violence requires sustained national and local funding.

The tense moment reflected wider political divisions over responsibility for public safety in London and how best to address violent crime, with the issue expected to remain a central focus in future Assembly debates.