Rising fear and anxiety is consuming me daily. Each day brings a new tale of horrific knife crime, so much so that a simple walk down the street has become daunting. Knife crime is not just statistics on paper, it's a real threat to our everyday life and safety.

In the UK, offences involving a knife or sharp instrument have been rising steadily, with 46,265 offences recorded in the year ending March 2020 alone (source: Office for National Statistics, UK). This number is not just impersonal data, it represents many lives affected, some lost forever, families devastated and communities living in fear. We need to see an increase in police presence in areas highly affected by knife crime to provide reassurance and deter potential criminals.

Moreover, we plead for stronger sentencing for those convicted of knife crimes. Only through strict legal repercussions can we deter potential offenders. A Home Office study shows that harsher sentences can help reduce personal robberies (source: Home Office, UK), and this could equally apply to knife crimes.

In memory of all those who fell victim to knife crime, those individuals who were just at the wrong place at the wrong time, we owe it to them and ourselves to take action. Please sign this petition for the enhancement of our safety, stronger policing, and a more secure legal deterrent. Every signature brings us closer to a safer society.