WHEN teenager Ben Kinsella was knifed to death in June last year, his murder prompted public outrage.

Following his senseless killing, in Islington, his sister – former Eastenders actress Brooke Kinsella, who teaches at the Future Faces Theatre School in Benfleet – became the public face of her family’s pain.

But the tragic 16-year-old, who was stabbed 11 times, is one of a growing number of people to lose their lives to knife crime.

This summer, James Pearson, 46, of High Street, Benfleet, was jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of knifing his pal Daniel Berry, 33, in the heart in an alcohol-fuelled attack on Halloween last year.

Then, last week, violent criminal Karl Harnwell, 42, of Parish Way, Laindon, was warned to expect a lengthy spell behind bars.

He admitted knifing his neighbour in the chest following an argument over a bicycle on June 29 this year.

His victim, a dad-of-three, was lucky to escape with his life.

Now justice secretary Jack Straw has announced proposals to lock up murderers, who killed with a blade, for a minimum of 25 years.

Mr Straw, who wants the legislation in place by early next year, said he wants the minimum term for knife killers raised from 15 to 25 years.

He said: “It is only right that thugs who carry knives with the intention of using them, potentially to kill, should the opportunity arise, go to prison for a very long time.”

Brooke, 26, said: “We’re just ecstatic. This is something that will mean people will remember Ben, so his death wasn’t in vain.

“For a 16-year-old boy to have actually changed the law I think is amazing, so we’re really happy.”

The news also comes as a victory for Essex knife crime campaigner Anne Oakes-Odger, who has battled for knife-related killings to be brought into line with gun-related murders.

Mrs Oakes-Odger, who tours schools around the county to warn youngsters of the dangers of the weapons, said: “This is predominantly down to my campaigning.

“It was with the support of Colchester MP Bob Russell, that we made the call for knife crime to be dealt with in the same terms as gun crime. If you shoot someone, the life sentence tariff starts at 30 years. If you stab someone, which is a horrendous way to die, the starting tariff was 15 years.

“I think 25 years is a pretty good starting point, although how that equates into the sentencing guidelines, we will have to see.”

Ms Oakes-Odger began her knife crime campaign after her son Westley, 27, was murdered in September, 2005. He was at a cashpoint in Hunwicke Road, Colchester, when he was attacked by brothers Mark and Andrew Fredericks.

They stabbed Mr Odger in the neck and he died from his injuries.

Andrew Fredericks, 32, was jailed for life for murder and told to serve a minimum of 15 years.

His brother, Mark Fredericks, 36, has been jailed for seven years for manslaughter.

Both had denied murder and blamed each other for striking the fatal blow.

Ms Oakes-Odger branded the sentences a “nonsense”.

She wrote to the Attorney General and asked him to look at the case in the appeal court before starting a petition.

Since then she has founded the organisation www.knifecrime.org and tours schools to speak about her own experiences.

She has twice addressed the Home Affairs select committee on the issue of sentencing and is working with the Ministry of Justice to improve the way knife crime is dealt with in the courts.

Ms Odgers added: “We do need a deterrent. People need to realise there is a consequence to carrying a knife and that if they choose to take a life in that way, then they will be dealt with robustly.”

Jack Straw’s proposals have also been met with cautious welcome by politicians.

John Baron, Tory MP for Billlericay, said: “Any adult who commits murder should be put away for life – and life should be life.

“It is simple, we have to send a strong message.”

Southend East Tory MP James Duddridge added: “Anyone who kills using a knife should be locked up for a very long time and I welcome the increase in sentence time for knife crime murders.

“However, we also need to ensure our police have the best opportunity of catching the perpetrators, by cutting red tape and getting more police out on the beat to ensure the people who commit these horrendous crimes are brought to justice.”

Mr Straw’s proposals are now set to be fast-tracked through Parliament.