WIREDGOV

Crimes of carrying an offensive weapon in North Ayrshire have fallen by 57 per cent since the No Knives Better Lives campaign began in 2012, the Justice Secretary revealed today.

The figures were published as Kenny MacAskill visited young people benefitting from one of the North Ayrshire programmes in Kilwinning.

Statistics also showed that violent crime has fallen by 24 per cent in the same period – 2011/12 to 2012/13.

No Knives Better Lives works with local partners including councils, police and youth groups.

It delivers activities in schools and communities to educate and inform young people about the dangers and consequences of carrying a knife and the devastating consequences of knife crime for communities.

It currently runs in 11 local authority areas across Scotland.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said:

“Crimes of handling an offensive weapon (including knives) have dropped dramatically in North Ayrshire, falling by a massive 57 per cent since 2012, and helped by campaigns such as No Knives Better Lives, are now at their lowest level in Scotland for 27 years.

“We have consistently said that the best way to tackle violence is through enforcement, education and prevention and our campaign has been a great success, with handling offensive weapons crime reducing significantly in all 11 areas where the programme is running and youth crime across Scotland falling by more than 50 per cent since 2008/09.

“There is never an excuse for carrying a knife and we will continue to work tirelessly with all of our partners to get the message home and change the culture in which some people think that carrying a weapon is acceptable.

“That is why we are seeking in the Criminal Justice Bill to increase the maximum penalties for knife possession from four to five years. Backed by our education programmes, Scotland already has the toughest knife crime sentencing regime in the UK and those caught risk a significant custodial sentence.”