This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Knife crime policy
20/03/2007
Measures to combat Scotland's knife-carrying culture are having a successful deterrent effect, according to Lord Advocate Eilish Angiolini QC.
Since the introduction of new guidelines in June 2006, the number of people accused of knife crime who are kept in custody pending trial has more than doubled and over 200 knife carriers have been prosecuted on indictment instead of summary complaint - meaning greater sentencing power for the judge.
The average sentence passed for knife crime, in cases that would have previously been dealt with on summary complaint, is now 10 months.
The new policy was also designed to intensify the Scottish Executive's campaign for a Safer Scotland and to support the cross-agency work of Scotland's Violence Reduction Unit.
Ms Angiolini said:
"Every year, far too many people are badly injured or killed by knives in Scotland. We have a duty to contribute to the goal of deterring knife offending. This initial analysis shows that the policy introduced last year is doing just that."
"We have sent a clear message to those who still carry knives or use knives to harm others. That message is simple: Carry or use a knife to harm someone, and you risk going to straight to custody and staying there for a long time."
Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan, head of the Violence Reduction Unit, said:
"This sends a clear message to those persistently carrying knives that not only are you like more likely to be stopped and searched, but you can be kept in custody and remanded in prison to await trial which could take up to three months."
"We want people to stop and think before they put a knife in their pocket. Three months is a long time for them, their family and friends."
"While we appreciate that the long term answer to violence reduction is in education and prevention, we are committed to reducing all types of violence happening today. The current generation of knife carriers, particularly young men who think it is ok to carry a knife, should be aware of the repercussions under the new measures." Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said:
"Knife carrying for whatever reason is unacceptable and those involved in these need to know that due to changes in the law and tough police enforcement, they are now more likely to be caught than ever before. And that once caught, they are also at least twice as likely to face being locked up until their trial.
"While, we will continue to tackle attitudes to knife carrying and violence in the long term, we also need to send a clear message now, that carrying a knife in public is a serious offence for which individuals will be required to face serious consequences."
Statistical Analysis - June 26, 2006 to February 26, 2007.
Out of a total of 202 reported cases where we decided to prosecute, bail was opposed in 176 cases. Out of those 176 cases, 120 people were kept in custody (68per cent)
Since the new policy came into force, we have reviewed a total of 74 concluded cases:
- A total of 56 people have pled guilty: (76 per cent).
- A total of 5 people found guilty: (7 per cent)
- A total of 7 people found not guilty: (9per cent)
- A total of 5 people where pleas of not guilty were accepted: (7 per cent) One person found not proven: (1 per cent)
- A total conviction rate of 82 per cent
- A prison sentence was imposed on 59 out of a total of 61 convicted (97 per cent). The average prison sentence imposed was 10 months
- One person was fined £500 and one person was given 80 hours community service
Further conclusions
- The majority of the knife crime relates to the Glasgow area
- In cases where an accused was either found guilty or pled guilty to a s.47 or 49 charge and was imprisoned, the period of imprisonment ranges from 2 months to 20 months
- Most of the knife crime committed was committed late at night or in the early hours of the morning