A 24-year-old man has been stabbed to death in east London – taking the number of murder investigations launched in London so far this year to 60.
The victim was found injured by police called to Crows Road, Barking, at 11.31pm on Thursday.
Officers gave him first aid before paramedics arrived, but he was declared dead at the scene.
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The man's next-of-kin have been informed, police said, but no arrests have yet been made.
Latest figures published by the Metropolitan Police reveal serious crime has soared in London in the past year, with the murder rate up by 44%.
The snapshot data of the number of crimes in the year to March also showed a 23% increase in gun crime, a 21% rise in knife crime and an 18% increase in the number of rapes.
At the same time, statistics reveal the Met's conviction rates for the most serious offences of rape and murder fell sharply over two years.
In 2015-16, the sanction detection rate for murder, the measure by which the police count a case as solved, was 93%, while last year it was 66.67%.
Met Commissioner Cressida Dick says she is "sure" cuts to police budgets have had an impact on the increase in violent crime.
She is hoping to recruit at least 500 extra officers using a £110m increase to the force's budget announced by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.
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Speaking on LBC Radio, Ms Dick said: "I would be naive to say that the reduction in police finances over the last few years, not just in London but beyond, hasn't had an impact.
"I'm sure it's had an impact. It's part of the issue, and that's why I'm very grateful for the new money that we've got, which we are getting on and investing on recruiting new people and I think it will help."
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