MPs back no-knives campaign

Aug 17 2008 by Phil Doherty, Sunday Sun

THREE more MPs have thrown their weight behind our campaign to lock up knife thugs.

Sharon Hodgson, Frank Cook and Stephen Hepburn have joined the ever-growing number of supporters for our call to show no tolerance towards those who carry knives.

The Sunday Sun wants the law changed so that anyone caught carrying a blade without a legitimate excuse faces the prospect of a jail sentence, instead of a caution or a community service order.

Sharon Hodgson, Labour MP for Gateshead East and Washington west, said: “I think we need to take three steps in order to cut back on the number of knives on our streets.

“Firstly, as the Prime Minister has said, we need to show young people that carrying a knife is not big or clever . . . it is unacceptable.

“We can do this not only by supporting stronger sentencing but also by making sure that the message gets out that if you commit knife crime, you will be caught.

“If our young people know that there is no escaping proper punishment then they will start to think twice about carrying knives.”

Our campaign already has the backing of Tory leader David Cameron, chief constable of Northumbria Police, Mike Craik, and Cleveland Police’s top cop Sean Price as well as peer and former Government adviser Lord Brian Mackenzie, the Mother’s Against Knives group and countless families who have lost loved ones to blades.

Frank Cook, MP for Stockton North, said: “I am always supportive of the use of the threat of jail as a deterrent.

“But in the meantime we have got to make sure that sufficient jail places are available and that progress is going full speed ahead . . . and that the system is able to cope for the moment.”

A spokesman for Stephen Hepburn, Labour MP for Jarrow, South Tyneside, said: “Stephen is happy to pledge his support to the Jail Knife Thugs campaign.”

The MPs’ backing comes as Northumbria Police have introduced an electronic arch at the Four Lane Ends Metro station to detect knives.

Force Chief Constable Mike Craik said: “Anyone found with a knife in public, without a good reason, will be arrested and charged.”