Tom Kirwan's fiance backs knife law move

She still wants to see the person who killed 23-year-old Tom Kirwan two years ago found and brought to justice.

But a vote by MPs to back mandatory prison terms for any adult convicted in England or Wales of a second offence involving a knife is at least a step in the right direction.

Mr Kirwan, who worked at Bridgnorth Aluminium, was fatally wounded near Wolverhampton nightspot Uberra Club, on July 8, 2012.

Three people have been convicted of affray for their part in a mass brawl which led to the stabbing but the killer has never been found. And in March last year 16-year-old Christina Edkins was fatally stabbed whilst on the bus to Leasowes High School in Halesowen.

Paranoid schizophrenic Phillip Simelane, from Walsall, was detained at a secure psychiatric hospital indefinitely after he admitted killing the schoolgirl.

Halesowen MP James Morris pledged to take up the issue of knife crime and campaign for a change in the law. MPs have now voted by 404 to 53, a majority of 351, to back making a prison sentence mandatory for anyone convicted a second time of possessing a knife without good reason. For anyone aged 18 or over it would be six months. For 16 to 18-year-olds it would be a four month detention training order.

Miss Elwell, aged 23, said: "There has to be a strong deterrent to anyone who would carry a knife and prison is that deterrent. Anyone prepared to carry a knife, get caught with it and then carry a knife again is someone who could end up using it."

Mr Morris co-signed the amendment that MPs voted on.

He said: "We don't accept people carrying guns for 'self-defence' and carrying a knife is no more acceptable."

Emma Reynolds, Labour MP for Wolverhampton North East, has also been campaigning for the change in the law. She said: "We need to do more to stop the repeated tragedies caused by the scourge of knife crime.

"Carrying a knife is completely unacceptable, and those who repeatedly do so need to be punished.

"Sentencing sends out a strong signal about what is and what is not acceptable and that's why I am supporting these proposed changes to the law.

"But it would be a huge disservice to Tom and other victims of knife crime if we give the impression that increasing sentencing alone will solve the problem.

"More needs to be done to ensure that young people are made aware of the consequences of carrying a knife so that we can divert people away from this dangerous path.

"Education is key to this, as is working closely with families and youth services."