Edmonton MP Andy Love backs Don't Carry, Don't Kill

Andy Love, MP for Edmonton, said that he supported the campaign because tackling knife crime among teenagers was something he had devoted his time and energy to since being elected to Parliament in 1997.

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.

But Mr Love said that defeating the problem needed more than just jail sentences, adding you needed “the carrot as well as the stick”.

He said: “The recent peace march and rally I went to on June 18 in Edmonton confirmed to me that our community is as committed as ever to standing together to tackle knife crime.

“The real challenge is to produce a mind shift – through local organisations and positive role models – that prevents young people from feeling like they have to carry knives in the first place.

“I am sure that your readers will agree that there are no easy solutions and I for one am not in possession of the magic wand that could stop knife crime overnight.

“I do, however, know from experience what we can achieve if we all unite behind an issue, from youth groups to police officers to local politicians and of course, most importantly, the local community.”

In August 2008, Mr Love handed a petition to then Prime Minister Gordon Brown signed by more than 1,000 Edmonton residents, calling for action on youth gun and knife crime.

The Labour Government launched the Tackling Knives Action Programme in response.

The Enfield Independent wants the coalition Government to commit to tackling knife crime by amending legislation due to brought before Parliament in October – and has launched a petition urging MPs to back our call.

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.