Tougher sentences needed, says mother of murder victim Tom Kirwan

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics – branded "extremely worrying" by an MP – show that 37 out of 44 police forces in England and Wales recorded a rise in offences involving knives and sharp instruments in the year to June. While knife crime rose by nine per cent nationally, the West Midlands saw the biggest increase of 18 per cent.

Emer Kirwan's son Tom, who worked at Bridgnorth Aluminium, was stabbed to death outside the former Uberra Club in Wolverhampton in July 2012.

She said it was "heartbreaking" to see the high levels of knife crime in the region.

Her son's killer has never been found, and she said one of the reasons why so many people carry knives is that they have no fear of prosecution.

"A lot of people think they can carry a weapon around and not get prosecuted for it," she said.

"There should be stiffer sentences for anyone who is found carrying a knife," she said. "How any normal person can go around carrying a knife and use it on another person is beyond me. I just don't understand the mentality. Something has got to be done because the problem is clearly getting worse."

The region has been hit by a spate of stabbings in recent years.

In the past month alone there were three incidents in the space of eight days in Dudley borough.

Mansoor Mahmood, 24, died after he was stabbed in the stomach in Brierley Hill, a 22-year-old man was stabbed in Lower Gornal and an 18-year-old man was critically injured in a stabbing in Sedgley.

There was also a stabbing on a bus in West Bromwich, which led to a 16-year-old boy requiring hospital treatment, while early in September 23-year-old Mircea Gheorghe Cozmiuc was knifed to death in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton.

All of the incidents took place after the ONS figures were compiled, sparking fears that knife crime across the region could get even worse.

Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden, said: "I think these figures will strike fear into the heart of every parent."

"Whenever there is a rise in the crime rate we have to take it very seriously, but the figures showing the rise in knife crime in the West Midlands are of particular concern.

"We all know that knives can end lives and cause endless heartbreak. We should all be extremely worried."

Warley MP John Spellar said that getting knives off the streets 'must be a major priority'.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson has vowed to clampdown on knife crime.

He said: "Following the recent knife attacks in the Black Country, the police are working round the clock to bring those responsible to justice, support the victims and their families and reassure the community.

"Tackling knife crime is a top priority and my office has been approached by community leaders in Dudley about the installation of a knife surrender bin in the borough – something we are pleased to support.

"I want to reassure the public West Midlands Police is doing all it can to protect the community and bring those responsible before the courts."

West Midlands Police have installed dozens of knife surrender bins around the region in a bid to clamp down on knife crime.

Last month 158 blades and one imitation gun were recovered from seven surrender bins around the region, with 71 knives placed in a bin in West Bromwich High Street.

The force's crackdown came in the wake of a long running battle to rid the streets of violent crime, with the region having seen a number of high profile cases involving knives in recent years.

They include Halesowen schoolgirl Christina Edkins, who was fatally stabbed in the chest by Phillip Simelane while travelling to school on the No.9 bus along Hagley Road, in Edgbaston, on March 7, 2013.

Christina's great uncle Chris Melia, said: "It is distressing to see that more and more people are going through the same distressing experience as ours.

"It seems that there is still not enough resources being put into stopping knife crime."

In February last year thugs armed with a knife and a hammer brought terror to the streets of Wolverhampton in gang-related violence that took place in broad daylight.

Earlier this year Darren Parker, who was 43, was killed after being knifed in a house in West Bromwich, while in October 2015 Herman 'Louis' Simpson,46, was stabbed to death in his home Wolverhampton.

Christina Edkin's great uncle Chris Melia, said: "It is distressing to see that more and more people are going through the same distressing experience as ours.

"It seems that there is still not enough resources being put into stopping knife crime."