A knife crime campaigner has spoken of her delight after a new law was passed in the House of Commons.

Yvonne Lawson, who lost her son Godwin in a fatal stabbing four years ago, has revealed she is ‘elated’ by the new bill.

The Criminal Courts and Justice Bill, championed by Enfield North MP Nick de Bois and Enfield Southgate MP David Burrowes, will impose a mandatory jail term for people caught carrying a knife for a second time.

An amendment to the bill was also passed, adding mandatory detention sentences for under 18s caught committing the same offence.

Mrs Lawson, who set up the Godwin Lawson Foundation, told the Enfield Independent she received the news via text from Mr de Bois soon after the vote.

She said: “I received a text from Nick saying 'We’ve done it' and I was just so elated our hard work had paid off.

“I am really excited to see this message is now being taken across the nation that if you take the law into your own hands, there will be consequences.”

The foundation works to intervene early in knife crime amongst teenagers and tries to transform young people into role models.

Mrs Lawson added: “I am very keen to push the early intervention side and help teenagers overcome barriers before it gets to prison.

“However, if young people choose to ignore this, there are now consequences. But I am very passionate about stopping young people getting to that stage.”

The bill received a resounding yes in the Commons yesterday with 404 votes in favour and 53 against.

The bill will now be read in the House of Lords.