Two Croydon MPs have blasted the government for its sluggish response to the "rapid rise in knife crime" following the death of a 15-year-old boy.

News broke on Wednesday that Jermaine Goupall had been knifed to death in Thornton Heath.

An eyewitness has told of the moment he rushed over to help the schoolboy who had been stabbed multiple times with a "samurai sword".

In a joint statement by labour MPs Sarah Jones and Steve Reed, the pair said the Home Secretary wasn't "bothered" to address the issue.

"The stabbing in Thornton Heath last night is another tragic reminder that knife crime in Croydon is at dangerously high levels," they said.

Related: Teenage boy stabbed to death with a 'samurai sword' in Thornton Heath

"On average, we are now seeing a fresh incident every two days - police cordons are becoming a painfully regular sight on our streets.

"The government has been warned time and again that Croydon doesn't have enough police to deal with the rapid rise in knife crime. Croydon's MPs raised this matter in parliament and wrote to the Home Secretary asking for more support four weeks ago, but she still hasn't bothered to reply.

"Just recently, residents phoning about a gang fight on the streets outside their homes were told there were no officers available to help.

"The Home Secretary must now recognise how urgent this situation is and give Croydon the resources we need to stop the knife crime epidemic. People in our community need to know they are safe at all times."

The pair weren't the only ones to speak out about "this wave of knife crime."

Councillor Alison Butler said of the Thornton Heath stabbing: “I am devastated to hear another young man has lost his life to knife crime, and my thoughts are with the victim’s family.

"This is happening all too frequently both in Croydon and across London – enough is enough.

“Croydon Council is continuing to work closely with the police and local communities to combat this wave of knife crime, but our young people must also work with us.

"I urge them to do the right thing, put down their knives and choose the right path to their future.”

Police were called at around 11pm on Tuesday, August 8, to a teenager stabbed in Georgia Road near the junction with Green Lane, Thornton Heath.

Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and found the victim suffering from stab injuries.

He was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before midnight.