Winchester & Chandler's Ford MP Steve Brine is backing an amendment to a Bill which seeks to ensure anyone over the age of 15 convicted of threatening with a knife will be given a mandatory custodial sentence.
The amendment, on the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, was tabled by Enfield North MP Nick de Bois, and looks to build on the Government's announcement in June that any adult convicted of using a knife to threaten or endanger would face a mandatory six month prison sentence.
Steve Brine said: "The amendment Nick has tabled meets the pledge that David Cameron gave before the General Election. I was delighted at the government's announcement back in June regarding adults, but it is a sad fact that many people using knives to threaten life are under the age of 18.
"Of course, we need more than tough sentences, and this problem will not be solved by custody alone, but we do need a strong and credible deterrant if we are to start to make an impact amongst our young people."
Forty MPs have so far joined Mr Brine in backing the amendment, and Mr de Bois has written to the Prime Minister on the issue.