In June the Government pledged that any adult convicted of using a knife to threaten or endanger, would face a mandatory six month prison sentence. However, as residents in Enfield and across the country know only too well, it is a sad fact that a high number of those using knives are under the age of 18. We therefore need tough policies to deal with them, too.

Enfield North MP Nick de Bois led a campaign in the constituency and across Parliament seeking to amend the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill to ensure that mandatory custodial sentences would also apply to those under 18 years of age. In November the government agreed with Nick and amended the Bill before parliament so that 16 or 17 year old who uses a knife to threaten or endanger a life will also be given a mandatory custodial sentence which is proportionate to the offence and age of the offender. The amendment passed the House of Commons recently and, if passed by the House of Lords ensures that a credible deterrent exists to help discourage young people becoming involved with knife crime. "Enfield's Law" as it is becoming known will help make a difference to the lives of young people and make our streets safer.

Solving our knife crime problem cannot be done by laws alone and Nick is now focusing his work on working with local and national groups to help deter young people from a life dominated by gangs and in many cases knife crime. The all too familiar tragic outcome for so many young people demands that we do whatever we can to stop the culture of hopelessness, lack of responsibility and successful parenting that can lead young people into gangs and knife crime. The government have set out a national strategy working to ensure that there are successful early intervention programmes, stronger judicial responses and integrated cross government work which will help beat the scourge of knife crime. But it is important we take this strategy and make it work locally which is why Nick is helping support and co-ordinate local voluntary groups in early intervention programs.