Last year, we launched Knives Ruin Lives, a campaign prompted by the murders of Glen Corner and Lee Phipps.

Not only did it aim to highlight the dangers of carrying knives, but it also called for automatic jail sentences for those who do.

Now, new guidelines by the Sentencing Guidelines Council have been issued to all magistrates and judges in the UK.

It advises that the starting point for an adult caught carrying a knife should be 12 weeks in jail if they don't own up to the offence and plead guilty in court.

The change means we are one step closer to achieving our aim and helping rid the streets of South Tyneside of knife crime.

The tougher sentencing guideline has been welcomed by Susanne Hilton, Glen's mother.

The youngster was stabbed to death in August 2006 as he celebrated his 16th birthday and passing his GCSEs.

Ms Hilton said: "Words cannot describe how Glen's death has devastated me and my family.

"It is so important to get the message out there on how dangerous knives can be.

"Jailing those caught in possession of a knife will, hopefully, deter others from carrying knives and, in turn, will potentially save lives.
"The law needed to change, and people should be locked up for carrying a knife without a legitimate reason. It is good news."

Gazette editor John Szymanski said: "We understand that things do not happen overnight. When we launched our campaign, we knew it would take time to change minds and get what we, and grieving parents like Susanne Hilton, believe is right.

"The fact the courts now have stricter guidelines and tougher measures is one step closer for us, and we will keep pushing for new moves until knives disappear from our streets."

Acting Chief Inspector Clare Langley, of South Shields police, said: "We know that it is all too easy for a knife to take a life, and teaming up with the Gazette for this campaign had the aim of raising awareness about the dangers of knives.

"This message is being continued in Northumbria Police's force-wide knife crime campaign, which is focusing on robust enforcement action against those who carry knives.
"South Tyneside does not have a significant problem with knife crime, unlike some areas of the country, and we are committed to keeping it that way.

"This can only be successfully achieved by working with the public and our partners, and through initiatives and campaigns such as this.

"We want to reassure people that the borough is a safe place to live, work and visit, and campaigns such as this one should be applauded for helping maintain this."

The Knives Ruin Lives campaign has also once again been praised by Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker and South Shields MP David Miliband.

Mr Coaker, said: "It is campaigns like the Gazette's that are helping to raise awareness of the issues surrounding knife crime and ways to tackle them.

"Any positive measures that can help to reduce their dangers – and make our streets safer – must be applauded. This is a real achievement for the Gazette, its readers and for South Tyneside."

Mr Miliband added: "The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, made crystal clear that this government would not tolerate people carrying knives.
"Here in South Shields, we have seen the heartache and devastation that knife crime can cause.

"I commend the Gazette for their stance in tackling this issue.

"If anyone reading this story continues to carry a knife, they now know that the police and courts will come down heavily on them when they are caught."

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "As part of our ongoing drive to tackle knife crime, we have introduced a presumption to prosecute, the maximum sentence for carrying a knife has been doubled to four years, and people who are prosecuted for carrying a knife are now almost three times as likely to go to prison as in 1997 and for a third longer.

"As the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said recently, anyone who uses a knife to threaten or cause fear of violence should be jailed.

"The Sentencing Guidelines Council is an independent body, and sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the courts."