Families of the latest victims of Britain's knife crime epidemic called for an end to the bloodshed yesterday.
United in grief, their lives shattered by knife-wielding thugs, the parents of five murdered teenagers issued an impassioned appeal for more stop and search by police and tougher penalties for knife offenders.
Sharon Louch, 47, lost her son Jay Sewell, 18, last December after he was attacked by a mob of nine youths in Eltham, south-east London.
She said: 'I don't have faith in this country's justice system and I've no faith in the sentences they're giving out.
The family of Hazrat Umar (pictured), who was stabbed to death in Birmingham, said the law was 'too lenient' while Sharon Louch (right), 47, lost her son Jay Sewell (in the photo frame) and has launched a petition calling for tougher sentencing
'It just seems that life is cheap. Knife offenders should be hauled off the street. They shouldn't just get a rap on the knuckles, told they're a naughty boy then be allowed out into society again.
'It doesn't matter what colour they are, whether they're white or black. If police feel there's a need to stop people they should be stopped.'
As MPs and police chiefs continued to row over how to resolve the crisis, the Daily Mail approached the families of some of the 27 teenagers stabbed to death in the last year to hear their views.
Miss Louch, a mother-of-four, told of her despair at the soft sentences being handed out to knife offenders and accused ministers of caring more about Brexit than children dying in the street.
She has launched a petition, now with 40,000 signatures, calling for knife possession to carry a ten-year sentence.
Two women and six men accused of her son's murder are due to go on trial later this year. However, Miss Louch is doubtful they will face hefty sentences even if they are convicted.
She said: 'I'm scared they're only going to get something like seven years for it. It scares me that my son's life could only be worth that.
'But for me, I've got the life sentence. All I've got is a grave that I go and cry at every day. My son is never going to get married, I'm never going to be a grandmother to his kids. It's such a waste.'
Mandy Jamieson with tributes and a picture of her son Danny Gee-Jamieson, who was stabbed to death. She called for police to 'frighten the life' out of knife carriers
She added: 'Theresa May is an absolute disgrace to this country. While our kids are dying on our streets all they're bothered about is Brexit.'
The horrific murders of girl scout Jodie Chesney and private schoolboy Yousef Makki, both 17, last weekend brought
