Call for tougher action on knife crime
Labour leader Iain Gray has urged the Scottish Government to do more to tackle knife crime.
He said recent tragedies - including the deaths of teenagers Reamonn Gormley in Blantyre and Dale Bennett in Gorebridge - illustrated the public's desire for tougher action. Speaking during First Minister's Questions at Holyrood yesterday, Mr Gray called on Alex Salmond to "listen to those people".
He said: "Two thousand people marched on the streets of Blantyre demanding action. The murder of Reamonn Gormley appalled the country.
"Justice of the Peace Caroline Johnstone has even stepped down from the bench to campaign for mandatory jail sentences for knife carrying."
Mr Salmond said serious crime should be met by "serious sentences, not short sentences". He went on: "Can we just remind this chamber the reduction in crimes of handling offensive weapons since 2006-7, since this government came to office, has been 30 per cent."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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