Police station closures, a lack of visible police officers and there being nowhere for young people to go in Harrow are reasons residents believe there has been a rise in violent crime in the borough.
Getwestlondon asked readers what is to blame for the apparent rise in violent crime, after four young men suffered stab injuries in the town centre, in the early hours of Sunday (July 9) morning.
A 23-year-old man is in a critical condition and fighting for his life, while a 19-year-old is in a serious but stable condition. The two other men, aged 20 and 21 were discharged from hospital.
Latest knife crime in west London
But with rising fears of South Harrow police station closing, a councillor has warned of the impact of cuts in the area.
Cut police stations 'at our peril'
Councillor Georgia Weston, an Independent member representing Headstone North ward, said: "I think it's no coincidence that shortly after Wealdstone Police Station was closed, a man was murdered on the pavement directly opposite.
"There is no doubt in my mind that police stations and police numbers have a direct impact on local crime - cut them at our peril."
Other residents say there is not enough for young people to do, encouraging loitering in the town centre.
Liam Moroney said: "I think things have deteriorated quite badly over the last decade.
"My feeling is that there just isn't anywhere decent for teens to go.
"There's very little to do round here that doesn't cost a fair amount of money and we have way too many take always on our main shopping streets, which encourage kids to hang around the same spot.
'It puts young people at risk'
Rosie Woods believes there is a shortage of youth workers and children's services.
She said: "You basically have nothing once you are a teenager.
"This doesn't make young people violent. But when you have groups of kids wandering around then more likely the 1% who are looking for trouble will be able to stir it up.
"It puts young people at risk. We should have youth clubs like I used to go to."
And Nila Phillips added: "There's way too many places to eat and nothing else to do afterwards but go to a pub or wander about in the town centre.
"If you haven't got much cash but you are a bored teen, what can you do?"
Antisocial behaviour
Kay Thomas creator of the South Harrow Community Matters group, thinks police Safer Neighbourhood Teams were a great idea, but are affected by cut backs.
She said: "The idea of having a small task force that knows the local community and who the community knew they could contact for 'not quite proper police matters'.
"But politics and cut backs has made a potentially important cog impotent.
"Staff change too often and new flexible teams are too stretched to be useful. Everyone I know says we need more bobbies on the bear but it never happens."
Harrow 'safer than some boroughs'
However, Ian-Luke Penwald believes the borough is safer than other areas of the capital.
He said: "It definitely feels as if things have got worse. It seems to be a more frequent occurrence now than I can ever remember.
"That said, I travel about London quite a lot and Harrow feels safer than some boroughs I go to."
The latest stabbings come just a week after a man in his late teens was stabbed several times near Harrow town centre on July 2.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, or has information that may assist police, is asked to call Harrow CID via 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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