'It is completely heartbreaking': MPs back campaign for tougher knife crime sentences
MPs from the Black Country have thrown their backing behind an Express & Star campaign calling for tougher knife crime sentences.
Since January 1, there have been 21 serious incidents involving knives across the region – five of which saw people killed.
Among the victims of knife crime are eight-year-old Mylee Billingham, who was stabbed to death at her home in Brownhills in January, and Jasmine Forrester, 11, who died after she was stabbed at a house in Wolverhampton.
Sign the Express & Star's petition calling for tougher sentences for knife crime here
Official figures show the number of deaths caused by knives across the region has risen from 13 in 2015 to 23 last year – a rise of 77 per cent. This outbreak of violence has sparked the Express & Star to launch a petition urging Prime Minister Theresa May and Home Secretary Amber Rudd to bring in mandatory prison sentences for anyone caught in possession of an offensive weapon.
Nearly 500 people have signed the change.org petition in its first few hours.
More from the E&S's campaign:
Today, Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden urged the Prime Minister to introduce tougher sentences for knife possession.
He signed the Express & Star’s petition and said: “I totally support the Express and Star’s campaign. It is completely heartbreaking to see young lives cut short through appalling knife crime.”
“We have had terrible murders locally and others around the country in recent weeks. I support the Home Secretary and the Government taking a tougher stand against the carrying and use of knives.”
Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris said people who carry knives need to ‘face the full brunt of the law’.
Mr Morris said: “We are catching and prosecuting more people who carry a knife or a blade.” “And those convicted are more likely to go to prison, and for longer than at any point in the last ten years.
“Unfortunately however, knife crime is still a real issue across the West Midlands.
“The Government has just finished a consultation into new laws around offensive and dangerous weapons including knives aimed at tackling serious violence.
“We are also using a number of other methods to tackle this sort of crime. For example, providing funding to community groups and community projects which are working to end gang violence in our communities.
“Our Serious Violence Strategy will put greater focus on steering young people away from a life of crime
“I voted to make sure that those who are caught carrying a knife would have the threat of a custodial sentence hanging over them, and I think we need to be continuing our work to ensure that those who wish to carry knifes realise that they will face the full brunt of the law if they do.”
Eddie Hughes, the Conservative MP for Walsall North, and Wolverhampton North East’s Labour MP Emma Reynolds have already thrown their support behind the campaign.
To sign the petition visit https://www.change.org/p/theresa-may-mp-knife-possession-should-have-stiffer-sentences
