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.”
Notes To
Editors
Recorded crimes of handling an offensive weapon in North
Ayrshire fell from 157 in 20011/12 to 67 in 20012/13.
More information on the No Knives programme is available at: http://www.noknivesbetterlives.com