AN Enfield politician has teamed up with the Enfield Independent to start a petition to Parliament to tackle knife crime.

As part of our Don't Carry, Don't Kill campaign, we are 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.

Legislation is due to be presented to Parliament in October — when it returns after the summer recess — when our petition will also be delivered to MPs urging them to back our call.

Mr de Bois said: “This petition represents a chance for the whole borough to come together and send a clear message on youth knife crime.

“It is a sad but very real fact that in Enfield we know that 15, 16 and 17-year-olds are capable of using a knife to threaten or endanger a life.

“If we speak with one voice on this issue I know we can make a difference and seek to amend the legislation. I would urge everyone to sign the petition to the House of Commons.”

Earlier this month, two rival gangs carrying guns, machetes and hammers faced off in Hertford Road, where a 16-year-old boy was stabbed in the hand, leaving him with a serious injury.

In April, 15-year-old Edmonton County School pupil Negus McClean was stabbed in the chest in Bounces Road, after he tried to stop a gang stealing his 12-year-old brother’s phone. He was found in a pool of blood in a nearby street where he died.

Teenagers held a Unity Peace March through Edmonton last month to protest against gang culture and knife crime.

Parliament will only accept petitions with hand-written signatures, so click here to download the petition, print it out, and send it to: Nick de Bois MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.