County Durham mum calling for tougher knife crime sentences
Zoe McGill says the law needs to change so that people think twice about carrying a knife
A County Durham mum whose son was murdered is calling on the government to have tougher sentences on knife crime.
Jack Woodley was just 18-years-old when he was attacked and stabbed by a group of teenagers in October 2021.
Zoe McGill, his mum, says our laws need to get stricter and fast.
She said: "This is one thing that really annoys me. It makes me so angry when you see people walking out of court after taking someone's life.
"If you take a knife out or involve yourself knowing someone's got a knife, they should just throw the book away. Throw the key away. ten years – there you go. That is what’s going to stop what’s going on.
"I don't understand it. I think our laws are old and dated and they need to get strict and fast. That is how they would stop this. Things like the knife angel and the education is all good, but to stop what's going on, they need tougher sentences.
"The government should make everyone aware that if you get found with a knife, you're going to get 5-10 years in jail. You're going to serve the lot. Do you think people would go out with a knife so quickly? Probably not.
"They're going into court and they're getting let off. Even people who haven't killed people or they've stabbed them, or they've been found with a knife. Lenient sentences walking out of court. You're giving them a licence to kill.
"It needs to change. Where there's evidence that someone has gone out purposely and took somebody's life - throw the book, five years, ten years. You serve the lot and that would stop people going out with a knife."