Only one in four armed criminals face prison

Published on Thursday 18 June 2009 10:34

LESS than one in four criminals caught in public with a knife or offensive weapon in Edinburgh is jailed for the offence, new figures revealed today.

The figures revealed that most offenders charged with carrying the weapons were given fines or community service in court.

Among the offensive weapons seized by officers last year were baseball bats, stun guns, syringes, bottles, belts and a sock containing snooker balls.

The statistics were branded "terrifying" by critics of the sentencing system, with calls for mandatory prison terms for those caught with knives.

Police chiefs have led a crackdown on knife carrying in the Capital in recent years, and they pledged to continue dealing "robustly" with the problem.

The number of people sent to prison for carrying a knife in public fell to a five-year low in 2007/8, when less than one in three were jailed.

Exactly 1,200 offenders were sentenced for possession of a knife or offensive weapon in the last five years, but only 314 were given custodial terms. Across the Lothians, a quarter of 319 offenders caught with knives or offensive weapons went to jail in 2007/8, while 134 received fines.

Tory Lothians MSP Gavin Brown called for a mandatory two-year term for those caught. He said: "These figures paint a terrifying picture of just how much a blight knife crime is across the city.

"It is appalling that less than a third of all people caught with a knife in the Lothians receive a jail term. Many of those caught with knives and other weapons merely receive a fine, which won't amount to much more than a light slap on the wrist. That, of course, assumes that the fine is actually paid.

"These shocking figures will leave many people across the city wondering why so few criminals receive a jail sentence. We need to send a signal to those that carry knives that their actions won't be tolerated."

In February, the Evening News revealed that one in five people convicted of carrying a knife or offensive weapon in Edinburgh has previously been charged for a similar offence.

The statistics showed that the number of convictions for possession have soared by 31 per cent in just four years.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said it was "doing more than ever before" to tackle the blade culture. She added: "Courts have been given powers recently to impose four-year sentences just for carrying a knife, while our proposed Sentencing Council can take a considered look at sentencing for knife offences."

A police spokesman said: "Through our strategy of prevention and enforcement, we will continue our efforts to remove dangerous weapons from our streets. When someone is found in possession of a knife, they will be dealt with robustly, and can expect to be arrested to appear at court the following day."