Bring back capital punishment.

That is the heartfelt plea of North Thanet MP Roger Gale, as a war of words is waged on knife crime.

He suggested a link between the end of capital punishment and the start of criminals "tooling up" with knives.

He also rubbished calls for a ban on pointed knives.

He said: “Are we seriously suggesting that chefs' knives should be banned?

“If so, then a panoply of carpenters and plumbers ‘weapons’, such as hammers and screwdrivers , will have to be taken out of circulation.”

Mr Gale’s comments came as the Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Ian Blair revealed kitchen knives had become the most used weapon in teenage stabbings.

On Thursday, the Government launched a £3million advertising campaign, using graphic photographs to show the impact of knife crime on people’s lives.

Mr Gale believes the Government needs to go even further, with those responsible for fatal knife attacks given the death sentence in certain circumstances.

The MP, who previously sought an amendment to introduce capital punishment to the Criminal Justice Bill, said: “I believe there are some crimes for which capital punishment is appropriate.

“Prior to the abolition of capital punishment, those with criminal intent generally did not go about their business and their everyday lives ‘tooled up’. Now they do.

“I appreciate that a re-introduction would mean the repeal of the Human Rights Act, but I have no problem with that whatsoever.”