Get tough on knives!

Seventeen-year old John Behan, of Woodhill Road, was asked to draw up a petition by his mum, after her friend was stabbed to death in Luton.

PC Jonathan Henry was responding to an attack on a window cleaner in Luton in June this year, when he was fatally stabbed in the back.

The 35-year old left a wife Mary and a baby girl called Maggie.

John Behan was living in Luton at the time and was appalled that an officer should lose his life while trying to do his duty.

He said: "He was only trying to do his job and he has lost his life for it. I was mugged twice while living in Luton, once at knifepoint.

"It seems people are more scared of the gangs than the police."

"Knives and guns are becoming a real problem in this country and I would like to see the Government put a stop to it.

"Just look at how many people have been killed recently."

John hopes to follow in Jonathan's footsteps and will attend a police pre-recruitment training day in September.

He said: "I want to be safe when I'm on the street."

He has been working at the Ravenside Tesco's in the meantime, where he has collected 185 signatures so far.

John hopes to get 10,000 signatures before presenting the petition to Mr Henry's family, who take it to 10 Downing Street.

He said: "I would like to make everyone in Bexhill and surrounding areas aware of this petition."

He hopes that the Government will introduce tougher sentences for people carrying or using knives in the street as a result of the petition.

Anyone who would like to sign the petition can find it at the Customer Service desk at the Ravenside Tesco.