Police enlist help of technology to fight knife crime

Published on Wednesday 19 January 2011 13:09

Mobile phones are to used to fight knife crime in Scotland, with youngsters in target areas being sent campaign messages via bluetooth, it was announced today.

Inverclyde, where knife crime has dropped by over a third since the campaign the No Knives, Better Lives campaign was launched, will be the first area in Scotland where the technology will be used to transmit special messages to young people's mobile phones.

If successful the scheme could be rolled out to other parts of Scotland.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said it could potentially reach a "huge audience".

Mr MacAskill said: "We've got to continue to look at new ways of getting the message across to young people about the dangers of carrying a knife and this new mobile phone initiative gives us the opportunity to do just that.

"You'd be hard pushed to find a young person who doesn't own a mobile phone and that is a huge audience we can potentially reach through these tactics."

Under the pilot, a transmitter can be targeted at areas where youngsters gather, and will send the message 'Choose Life Not a Knife' to phones that have bluetooth switched on.

Inverclyde Area Commander, Chief Inspector Graeme MacDairmid, added: "Educating and changing the attitudes of how the young feel about knives is paramount in achieving any real long-term success.

"Running in tandem with this successful education programme, my officers are focusing on targeting both known knife carriers, and hot spot areas where knife crime is prevalent.

"Never before have police officers in Inverclyde carried out so many searches for weapons, yet at the same time found so few."

Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker argued that mandatory jail sentences for knife carriers should also be used to help tackle the problem.

He said: "Over 2,000 people were knifed last year, 35 people were murdered in knife attacks. Approaches like No Knives, Better Lives can only be part of the solution.

"Only tough measures like minimum mandatory sentences will make the impact that Scotland needs to see on knife crime."

But Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Robert Brown MSP argued: "Diverting young people away from carrying knives or getting involved in gang violence is the most effective way of reducing the grim toll of injury caused by knife crime in Scotland.

"This targeted up-to-date approach, using the latest technology is an innovative way of combating this serious problem."