Boris Johnson came to Edmonton on Monday to launch what he called a “generational” programme to steer children away from crime.

The Mayor of London was at Bounces Road Community Hall, in Foxglove Lane, to unveil Time For Action, his five-point plan to takle the root causes of teenage violence in the capital.

He hopes the initiative will help build character in young people, reform the youth justice sector, and increase the role of the state in funding community groups and holding them to account.

The event was Mr Johnson’s first visit to Enfield since he began his run for office in the borough. Before an audience which included relatives of two teenagers murdered in Edmonton this year, Mr Johnson railed against the “nightmare of knife carrying” and praised law-abiding young people.

He said: “The vast majority of youngsters in London are good people. We need to be more postive about what they can ahieve if we give them the opportunities."

The Mayor appealed to Enfield groups working with youth to tell him what they need. He said: “Don’t be shy. We need people who are doing the work to come to the Mayor.”

However, Mr Johnson refused to say how much the programme would cost and his plan divided opinion among its target audience.

Gema Tomlinson, 15, of Baker Street, is on the Youth Opportunity Fund panel which selects worthy projects for government grants.

She said: ”He seems to know what he’s doing. It’s good he’s targeting all the different areas.”

Fifteen-year-old Precious Frimpong, of Monetaqu Road, an ex-offender who now works with Enfield’s Youth Offending Service, was less impressed.

She said: “I’ve heard Boris say the same thing time and time again but we don’t see change. One of the things they must do is push down the boundries that are stopping youngsters from achieving their potential.”

Enfield police were singled out for praise by Mr Johnson for their response to the spate of five knife murders earlier this year.

Edmonton, where four of these fatal stabbings happened, is no longer a designated knife crime ‘hotspot’.

Mr Johnson said: “The police are doing a really excellent job. I want to congratulate them.

The Safer Neighbourhood Team have done a great job too.”