THE LEADER of Enfield Council has backed the Don't Carry, Don't Kill campaign launched by the Enfield Independent.

Councillor Doug Taylor said that it could not become the default position that teenagers carry knives, although he was uncertain on whether a mandatory jail sentence was the answer.

He said: “We need to encourage young people to become responsible citizens, and obviously that doesn't include carrying weapons.

“It can lead to tragic consequences as we have seen in before in Enfield – but this isn't just an Enfield issue, this is a London issue.

“Carrying a knife is not just a danger to other people, it's more likely to be a danger to those that carry them.”

The Don't Carry, Don't Kill drive was launched today in a fightback against an increase in gang crime that is blighting Enfield leading to violent stabbings and attacks.

As part of the campaign, the Enfield Independent is backing Enfield North MP Nick de Bois' call to extend new sentencing powers for a six-month mandatory jail sentence for those caught with a knife to under-18s.