Stop Sale of Knives, says McConnell

Scotsman.com ^ | Feb. 13, 2004 | James Doherty and Andrew Denholm

[.38sw]

POLICE and city leaders in Glasgow have welcomed a commitment from the Scottish Executive to consider a ban on the sale of knives and machetes over the counter.

Jack McConnell, the First Minister, yesterday told the Scottish Parliament that if shops did not stop selling offensive weapons, ministers would step in.

"I know that both Strathclyde Police and the city council in Glasgow are looking at what measures can be taken, not just to tackle the outcome of incidents, but to tackle the supply of weapons," he said. "There are far too many shopkeepers in Scotland selling weapons that should not be on the counter, never mind in anyone’s homes.

"They should stop or we will bring in regulations."

Mr McConnell’s comments have been welcomed in Glasgow, which has the highest murder rate in the UK.

Between 1999 and 2001, statistics showed the homicide rate in the city to be 58.7 per million of population - a figure higher than Belfast, twice as high as London and almost four times that of Edinburgh.

In 2003, there were 81 murders recorded in Glasgow.

Last year, police arrested 190 suspects who they found had concealed weapons during stop and searches.

A further 402 knives were found on those arrested for a range of crimes from assault, shoplifting and robbery to breach of the peace. However, the total of 592 weapons seized fell by more than one-fifth on the 2002 figure when 760 knives were detected.

Glasgow City Council will impose a ban on the sale of new and used weapons, including replica guns and swords, by licensed second-hand dealers and market operators.

A previous attempt to have a Glasgow shop remove all second-hand weapons ended in 2001 after the council admitted an order against Victor Morris, an Argyle Street store, was wrong because it did not have the legal powers to impose a ban. However, the introduction of new licence conditions should impact on traders in markets such as the Barras.

Jim Coleman the deputy leader of the council and chair of the city community safety forum, welcomed the First Minister’s comments but said that more of those caught with offensive weapons should be prosecuted and jailed.

He said: "If you can’t give a good reason for carrying a machete down a public thoroughfare then you should be locked up.

"I’m very happy that the First Minister may move to legislate against the sale of these knives. It would be good news for the city, because knives and knife crime is a major plague."

Mr Coleman questioned whether the procurator fiscal and courts were allowing too many offenders to remain on the streets after they have been found to have been carrying dangerous weapons.

He added: "There is an anomaly here with regard to the amount of knives confiscated by police and the amount of people who are prosecuted.

"I don’t think the legal system is matching the good work done by the police.

"If we are to really tackle knife crime, then there must be an adequate deterrent to stop thugs from carrying them in the first place."

Strathclyde Police has vowed to crackdown on blade- wielding vandals within the city centre, with every police officer on the beat being issued with a hand-held metal detector to identify concealed weapons.

The plan has been backed by the city’s licensing community and nightclub owners who have agreed to sponsor 20 of the detectors which cost between £100 and £150 each.

A spokesman for Strathclyde Police yesterday confirmed that officers were continuing with initiatives to take the blades away from criminals.

He said: "Strathclyde Police is concerned that a minority of people continue to carry weapons. However, officers are making inroads into reducing the numbers of weapons on the streets of Strathclyde.

"When weapons are used, it can prove very dangerous and Strathclyde Police continually work with our partner agencies to tackle this issue.

[.38sw]

When knives are outlawed, only outlaws will have knives. See, gun control is working really well. Now the criminals are using knives. If you go to the source, note in the sidebar to the right of the story where there are additional links to stories about the "Knife Culture".

[GiveEmDubya]

(Smacks hand on forehead)

[RockyMtnMan]

"If you can’t give a good reason for carrying a machete down a public thoroughfare then you should be locked up. "

I keep one under the passenger seat of my car "for chopping wood".

[spokeshave]

I recomend a well aged Haggis attached to a short cord......works like a ball and mace.

[spectre]

I guess the good people of Glasgow will soon be cutting into their slabs of beef with chopsticks.

[blackbart.223]

"Stop Sale of Knives, says McConnell."

And let's not forget those cricket bats! a bloody dangerous weapon in the wrong hands.

[blackbart.223]

"I guess the good people of Glasgow will soon be cutting into their slabs of beef with chopsticks."

No problem. Ban beef. Plugs up the arteries don't you know?

[Jeff Chandler]

Forks are next.

[ApplegateRanch]

To think everybody laughed at us when we said, "First they want to take our guns, then it'll be our knives."

I have access to a large supply of pitchforks I'd be willing to sell to the peasants, cheap...

[Jet Jaguar]

They will need to ban beer mugs as well.

[Veracious Poet]

During feudal times peasants were only allowed to own dull knifes with flat points...and their dogs had to have one tendon cut so as not to chase the king's horses.

Wonder how long before we come full circle in Amerika as well?

[ApplegateRanch]

My knees are too stiff to bow, and I'm too bald to tug my forelock, so I guess I'll just have to spit in their eye instead.

[supercat]

I recomend a well aged Haggis attached to a short cord......works like a ball and mace.

I recall reading of a man who was charged with 'carrying an offensive weapon' for possessing twenty £0.50 coins rolled up in a newspaper. The judge threw the case out of court, but the cop's instincts weren't exactly wrong (except that it was a defensive weapon).

[Bad Dog2]

Swords were banned by the crown after the '45. That is the uprising of 1745. Of course landed gentry were exempt. First swords, then guns, now a proposition on knives. Whats next; the banning of the possession of sticks?

[KangarooJacqui]

They will need to ban beer mugs as well.

Too bloody right they will! Ever see the movie "Trainspotting"?

[KangarooJacqui]

And let's not forget those cricket bats! a bloody dangerous weapon in the wrong hands.

I had a brother who used to chase me around the house with a cricket bat. Just as well I could run faster than he could - those things are lethal.

[riverrunner]

Any half way decent preice of steel and a grinder or file one can make a fairly good knife in short order.

What a bunch of idiots.

[Cronos]

The best Scots are in the USA. The best French are in the USA, the Best Germans are in the US, the best Africans are in the USa. to **** with the old world.

[Doohickey]

I guess the good people of Glasgow will soon be cutting into their slabs of beef with chopsticks.

Bzzt! Chopsticks can be fashioned with dangerous pointy tips!

[R. Scott]

Chopsticks had to be used in the Orient because the peasantry were not allowed knives.
Can a Scotsman eat haggis with chopsticks?