Knife campaign stepped up a year after Christina Edkins death
An MP has stepped up his campaign for prison sentences to people caught carrying knives in the wake of the year anniversary of the death of schoolgirl Christina Edkins.
Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris has called for the mandatory punishment since the 16-year-old was stabbed to death on her way to Leasowes High School in March last year.
Christina was attacked by Philip Simelane, who later pleaded guilty to the manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was sentenced to an indeterminate hospital order.
Speaking in the House of Commons this week, Mr Morris said a mandatory prison sentence should be given to 'send the strongest signal that carrying knives is unacceptable and will be punished'.
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said he wanted to change the sentencing policy on knife crime as part of an ongoing review.
Mr Morris also signed amendments to the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, which will mean a 6-month minimum jail sentence for adults convicted of carrying a knife for a second time.
Mr Morris said: "I promised Christina Edkins's family that I would take up the issue of knife crime and would campaign for a change in the law to make sure that people caught carrying illegal knives receive the prison sentences they deserve.
"The government has done a lot already to toughen up knife laws, including ending simple police cautions for carrying an illegal knife and introducing minimum sentences for people convicted of using one, but we need to go further to make sure that people know that carrying an illegal knife will be treated the same as carrying a gun.
"I know that the government is restricted by what can be agreed with coalition partners, but I believe that this issue is so important that we must put it forward in the House of Commons and if other parties want to vote it down, they will have to explain why to their own voters.
"I am delighted that the Justice Secretary agrees with me that we need change and I look forward to voting for it in parliament."
A review is still being carried out into health services after it emerged Simelane, aged 23, was released from prison unsupervised before the random attack on a bus in March.
A spokesman for the Central Midlands Commissioning Support Unit, which is heading the review, is publishing its findings this year.
