Ministers argue that a crackdown is working
Posted on 09/05/2002 7:09:30 AM PDT by SJackson
Ministers argue that a crackdown is working
An increase in knife crime has led to calls from police chiefs for society to do more to combat the problem. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) said the message about the danger of carrying knives must be driven home, especially to young men.
That call was echoed by Victim Support Scotland which said knife attacks had a terrible effect on the victims.
The Scottish National Party said it wanted to see new measures to tackle Scotland's knife culture but the Scottish Executive has argued that the latest statistics show that a police crackdown is working.
The latest figures for knife crime and the use of offensive weapons were published in the Scottish Parliament following questions by the SNP.
They show that convictions for carrying an offensive weapon rose from 227 in 1996 to 1,137 in 2000.
Convictions up
The number of people convicted of having a weapon with a blade or point in a public place leapt from 317 to 1,101.
Strathclyde Police Assistant Chief Constable Graeme Pearson, speaking for Acpos, said: "What we need to do is, in the years to come, make it as unacceptable for someone to carry a knife as it is now unacceptable to drink and drive.
"Someone who walks the street with a knife should be seen as someone beyond the pale."
David McKenna, from Victim Support Scotland, said: "We've seen increasing levels of violence over the last five to 10 years and indeed that has often been associated with youth crime and carrying weapons like knives and blades.
"The sad thing is it's young people committing crime against young people.
"Violence is on the increase, the police are doing a lot about it but we still need to do a lot more."
Claims rejected
SNP leader John Swinney said that the figures were clear evidence of an unprecedented upsurge in Scotland's knife culture.
He said new ways of tackling the problem - including stiffer sentences - must be explored.
However, Justice Minister Jim Wallace said the SNP claims were false.
He said the increases in convictions were actually proof of an enormously successful crackdown on knife crime by the police and Scotland's legal system.
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Oooooth! Thoppt it you Brutes!!!!
Try Culloden, 1745. The Brits massacred the Jacobite warriors of the Highland Clans, then went house-to-house hunting down wounded and killing them. Later they co-opted the survivors of the decimated clans by allowing them to wear the kilt and carry the claymores, as long as the swore fealty to the British Crown and joined the British Army. Then they sent many of these Highland troops to the Americas to help suppress the unruly rabble that we Americans are descended from, and are so justly proud of.
BTW, I would imagine that there are quite a few Scots left with functioning male equipment, in spite of the Lowlanders running the show over there.
Watch out! I've got a pointed finger!
Actually, he has something bent too! Never know when it might go off.....
H&P started that policy a couple of years ago when one of the hands cut himself while opening a mud sack.
They issued them box cutters !!
In the typical stupidity of safety people who have never been on a drilling rig site, they felt that box cutters with razor sharp blades were more safe than pocket knives!
Next thing, they'll be banning bagpipes. Again.
Stay Safe !
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAH!!!
CUT THE TREE DOWN WITH WHAT?? THEIR TEETH??
ROTFLMAO!!!
Then ya gotta worry about kicking, knees and elbow smashes ..... make em quadrapeligics to be extremely thorough.
LOL
Sharp rocks. Ooops, better confiscate those too.
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