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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Uh, the danger is not "carrying a knife" it's the other guy carrying a knife. If you carried one, as a responsible person, you'd be safer.
Well, duh.
"Someone who walks the street with a knife should be seen as someone beyond the pale."
Maybe all men should have their fists amputated, just to be on the safe side.
I talked to a lady from the Ukraine not too long ago. She said that when they tried this, they outlawed 'certain' martial arts, but not others, to the commoners.
The more effective arts, that might be used offensively (karate, taekwondo, etc) were only allowed to military or government personel. Judo was about the only martial art allowed to the commoners.
From our cold dead hands.
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