WIREDGOV

Records of how a customer's age and identity were verified, full descriptions of knives sold and a ban on displays visible from the street or public entrance are among the conditions proposed for those who sell non-domestic knives.

The new scheme would mean that dealers of non-domestic knives would need to be licensed by the local authority and comply with certain mandatory conditions set out by the Scottish Government, to help make sure such weapons don't find their way into the wrong hands.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said:

"This Government is taking action to tackle our problem with violence and knife crime - from tough enforcement to educating young people about the dangers of carrying a weapon.

"There is no doubt that weapons such as hunting and combat knives can, in the wrong hands, be part of this problem. They can injure, maim and kill, and we need to make sure they are only sold to people with a legitimate reason for buying them.

"That's why I want a new licensing scheme for dealers of non-domestic knives, that includes tough conditions to give more detail on each weapon sold and who it was sold to.

"We are also suggesting that anyone seeking to buy a sword must be able to prove the intended use - for example by producing a membership card or letter from a society with a recognised reason for using swords.

"People with a legitimate reason for owning non-domestic knives having nothing to fear from this, we are particularly looking for views from interest groups. This is designed to help stop these lethal weapons finding their way on to our streets and into the hands of those that seek them to do damage to another."

The consultation on a licensing scheme for dealers of non-domestic knives will run until October 22, 2008.

The Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Act 2007 gave Scottish Ministers the power to introduce a licensing scheme for dealers of non-domestic knives.

Related Links

Licensing scheme for knife dealers: A Consultation