THE mother of a student who was stabbed to death has welcomed plans to automatically jail criminals repeatedly caught carrying a knife.

Prime Minister David Cameron said he wants the new law to jail repeat offenders to be brought in as soon as possible.

Downing Street said Mr Cameron’s intervention came following criticism of the delay in introducing the measure.

The Prime Minister has made clear to officials “he wants to get on with this”

after the legislation was passed in February.

The law would mean a minimum six-month term in England and Wales for adults convicted of a second offence of carrying a knife, with 16 and 17-year-olds facing a fourmonth detention and training order.

Caroline Shearer set up knife crime charity Only Cowards Carry after son Jay Whiston (below) was stabbed to death outside a house party in Colchester in September 2012.

She said: “This is a step in the right direction, but people should be jailed the first time they are found carrying a knife, not the second.

“Jay and hundreds of other victims weren’t given a second chance.

“I don’t know why there has been such a delay in bringing the law into effect.

“I can only imagine it’s financial because of howmuch it costs to jail someone. But on the flip side, a murder trial costs millions.”

She added: “Knife crime is getting so prolific that we need sentences to be steadfast.

“Judges can’t just jail these people for a few days.

“Once we start putting a few of them away for life, others will start to rethink carrying knives.”

The new law was championed by former Tory MP Nick de Bois, who criticised the delay in implementing it as “not acceptable”.

The Prime Minister’s official spokeswoman said: “The Act came in earlier this year. In terms of getting on and implementing this, the Prime Minister is clear that he wants to get on with this and he has tasked officials with making sure this happens as soon as possible.”

When asked if Mr Cameron was disappointed with the delay, the spokeswoman added: “He is clear we should get onwith this. Hewould like to see it implemented within weeks, not months.”