Social media is "fuelling an escalation in the cycle of violence among young people," a Croydon MP has warned, as she urged ministers to crack down on online material promoting knife crime in the same way as extremist content.

Leading a special debate on the issue, Croydon Central MP Sarah Jones said that behind the all headlines was a wasted life, a grieving family and an anxious community.

She said a comprehensive national 10-year strategy was the only way to tackle what had become an epidemic of violence.

“A generation of young people are becoming increasingly anxious and desensitised to the existence of dangerous weapons," she said.

"Studies have shown that 50 per cent of London’s kids know somebody who carries a knife. Imagine what that does to your childhood, to your sense of anxiety even if you and your friends are nothing to do with knife carrying."

The effects of knife crime are still fresh in the minds of those in Croydon. Just a month ago, 15-year-old Jermaine Goupall was killed in a knife attack.

He was the 15th teenager to die in a knife attack in London this year.

The MP has spent part of the summer running Croydon Voice, a programme of meetings and local consultation in preparation for the Commons debate. The programme was aimed at understanding why knife crime has almost doubled in the last year and giving a voice to those tackling or experiencing the issue.

“I heard stories which broke my heart. Two police officers battled to save the saved the life of a putting their fingers in a wound to stop the streaming blood. He survived despite losing six pints of blood. But a week later he was picked with a knife as he went looking for revenge.”

“But this summer I also met towering figures in the local community who are giving their all to fight this problem and some amazing young people who against the odds have turned their lives around.”

She said MPs off all parties had to stand shoulder to shoulder with these brave and committed people to tackling an issue that was blighting individual lives and wrecking families and communities.