Mental health services key to preventing violent crimes, says Khan

Exclusive: London mayor says poverty, alienation and ill health must be tackled to prevent crimes, after London sword attack

Too many people with mental health issues who have committed violent crimes missed out on treatment as a result of cuts to support services, Sadiq Khan has warned.

In an interview with the Guardian ahead of this week’s local elections, he said such crimes were preventable and said years of austerity has left NHS mental health provision on its knees.