JameliaJamelia has said she thinks the UK should bring back National Service and the death penalty to tackle the rise in violent crime in inner cities.

She told the Sun recently: “National Service and the death penalty should be brought back.”

“The justice system is a farce at the moment and I think it really needs to be tougher. There is a serious crime epidemic and it has to be stopped.”

“I feel we are in an awful situation. I know people who have been sucked into a bad situation with gangs. I am very aware of it and I think it’s absolutely awful.”

“I think the Government needs to think seriously about what they are doing about it. They are spending all this money on wars when the UK is like a war zone itself.”

“If you have a gun or a knife, you should get an automatic prison sentence. If you carry a weapon you are prepared to take a life, it’s that simple. You should be punished accordingly. If there were more severe consequences surely things like pointless gang murders would stop.”

“There are ways to stop crime happening and regardless of how heavy-handed the punishment is, it needs to happen. There needs to be a serious deterrent.”

Jamelia’s own family has been affected by violence - her 15 year old brother Tesrod was murdered when she was just 13 and her half-brother Kiaro was jailed for life in 2004 for his involvement in a gang-related murder.

She said that as a result, she’s glad she’s got daughters (six year old Teja and two year old Tiani) rather than sons: “I do feel a lot more confident having girls than boys. I guess it’s because of my experience of having brothers. All of them have been touched by violence and tempted along the wrong path.”

“As a parent it’s my job to try my absolute hardest to make sure certain things do not happen to my kids. If it means being over-protective, I’m willing to do that. I really think about my job as a parent. It’s not something I take lightly.”

“I think the youth today who are doing well are being overlooked purely because of the shadow cast by the few who are doing bad. Negative behaviour gets all the attention. The concentration is always on the people who are doing the wrong things.”

“All children are the future, and as a parent you have to think about the contribution you want to make to society. All parents should take responsibility for their children.”