Fewer knife crimes ‘show education is the answer’

CRIMEs of handling an offensive weapon have fallen for the fourth year running, despite fears of a persistent knife culture in Scotland.

There were 6,283 incidents last year, the lowest in a decade, and 11 per cent fewer than the previous year.

Both Labour and Conservative MSPs have called for mandatory jail terms of six months for anyone caught carrying a knife.

Michelle Mathieson, whose son George, 22, was stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack, led 100 people on an anti-knife crime march through their home town of Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire, last month.

It was the latest demonstration calling for tougher penalties for people carrying knives.

However, the Scottish Government believes the latest statistics show that its education-focused approach is working well.

Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill said: “I particularly welcome the 11 per cent reduction in crimes involving offensive weapons, an area where we’ve seen crimes fall by more than a third since 2006-7.

“We have invested heavily in this area, specifically in our efforts to reduce knife crime, and recently announced the roll-out of our highly successful ‘No Knives, Better Lives’ education campaign across the country.”

GARETH ROSE