This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Knife amnesty to get blades off the streets
24/05/2006
Bin your knife, it could save a life - that was the stark message today at the launch a national knife amnesty.
From today until the end of June, anyone handing in a blade to the police will not be prosecuted for possession while they are handing it in.
For the first time, the amnesty will operate right across Britain with the Home Office responsible for police forces south of the border.
Research after the four-week Operation Blade in Strathclyde in 1993 shows that a well-planned amnesty can have a substantial impact.
More than 4,500 weapons were surrendered in Strathclyde alone and in the subsequent 12 months murder rates fell by 26 per cent, attempted murder by 19 per cent, serious assault by 14 per cent and offensive weapons possession by 23 per cent.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said:
"It is worrying to hear young people say they carry a blade for their own protection. The fact is that carrying a knife makes a night out more likely to end in bloodshed, not less.
"People who start the night as the best of friends can end up on hospital beds or mortuary slabs - simply because they reached for a weapon. Start with a blade, throw in some drink or drugs and you create an explosive cocktail - with serious consequences for the perpetrator, their families and their whole community.
"I recognise that a knife amnesty alone cannot provide a long-term solution to tackling violence. However, alongside work to challenge the underlying culture and acceptability of carrying knives among some young men, it will support our efforts to create safer daily lives for the people of Scotland.
"We have done a lot in terms of the law - we are tightening up legislation in the Police Bill, giving the police more powers. The Lord Advocate is making changes to prosecution policy, clamping down harder on those who persist in carrying blades. So I say today to those with a knife - take this opportunity to get rid of it. Clear your conscience and help clear the streets of these deadly weapons."
Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan, head of the Violence Reduction Unit, said:
"The knife amnesty is only one element in a 12 month long campaign aimed at tackling the culture of violence. A weapons surrender alone will not solve this deep rooted problem, however, it is part of the contain and manage phase of our long term violence reduction strategy.
"The amnesty is an opportunity for people to make that potentially life saving decision and hand in their locking knife or whatever weapon they chose to carry.
"I would appeal to anyone who carries a knife or whos considering carrying one, to think twice. No one leaves home with the intention of becoming a murderer, but that's the chance you take if you carry a knife. Id also appeal to parents - ask yourself the question - do you know if your son leaves home carrying a knife?"
The amnesty will be followed up by an intelligence gathering, then an enforcement phase.
Det Chief Supt Carnochan added:
"I want to warn knife carriers now, that after the amnesty we will be coming after you. Then when people are caught - whether they're engaging in violent behaviour or carrying a weapon - we will make sure they are brought before a court as quickly as possible.
"In the weeks and months ahead, we will be going after the most violent individuals who carry knives and engage in violent behaviour.
"We want to send out a strong message to individuals who engage in violent behaviour and carry weapons, that its no longer safe to carry a knife - because if you do, you will get stopped, searched and arrested.
The amnesty will cover the carrying of a knife in public, which would otherwise be an offence under section 47 or 49 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995.
Immunity will be provided only to those individuals who, in the act of handing in a knife at a police station or other disposal point, would otherwise commit an offence.
The Lord Advocate reserves his right to prosecute where there is evidence that the knife was used in the commission of another offence or where a person is caught in possession of a knife but claims that he or she was en route to hand it in at a police station or other disposal point.
The police will be able to check surrendered weapons to decide whether forensic examination is merited although it is expected that the vast majority of knives handed over will be destroyed.
Earlier this week, the Lord Advocate announced tough new measures to combat knife crime relating to how and when cases are reported by the police to Procurators Fiscal, the question of bail, and decision making by prosecutors particularly on the appropriate choice of court.
Last week Ms Jamieson announced that 100,000 pounds sterling was being made available to police forces via the VRU for metal detector wands to help them tackle knife crime.