Offensive weapons crime down 60 per cent
31 Mar 2014 03:44 PM
Crimes of carrying
an offensive weapon in Inverclyde have fallen by 60 per cent since the No
Knives Better Lives campaign began in 2009, the Justice Secretary revealed
today.
The figures were
published as Kenny MacAskill visited young people benefitting from a mentoring
programme in Greenock.
Statistics also
showed that violent crime has fallen by 33 per cent in the same period –
2009/10 to 2012/13.
No Knives Better
Lives was initially piloted in Inverclyde in 2009, and 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.
Since 2009, the No
Knives Better Lives has been rolled out to ten other areas across
Scotland.
Justice Secretary
Kenny MacAskill, said:
“Crimes of
handling an offensive weapon (including knives) have dropped dramatically in
Inverclyde, falling by a massive 60 per cent since No Knives Better Lives was
launched and are now at their lowest level in Scotland for 27 years.
“We have
consistently said that the best way to tackle violence is through education and
prevention and our campaign has been a great success, with handling offensive
weapons crime reducing significantly in all eleven areas where the programme is
running and youth crime across Scotland falling by 50 per cent over the last
six years.
“There is
never an excuse for carrying a knife and we will continue to work tirelessly
with all of our partners to hammer the message home and change the culture in
which some people think that carrying a weapon is acceptable. 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.”
Inverclyde Council
Leader Councillor Stephen McCabe said:
"This
campaign has had a significant impact on young people in Inverclyde but it is
vital we maintain the momentum and continue to get the message across. Carrying
a knife must not and will not be tolerated in our communities but we must also
do all that we can to help young people make positive decisions about their
lives."
Find out more at www.noknivesbetterlives.com