Grieving father calls for automatic jail sentences for knife crime offenders

A father whose son was stabbed to death told a summit on knife crime today there could be "no half measures" in tackling the problem.

John Muir, whose son Damian was stabbed eight times, has been campaigning for those caught carrying knifes to be given automatic jail sentences.

He took his case to the Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Committee, which organised today's event.

Young people, lawyers, leading police officers, the churches and social workers, were all present for the debate, along with representatives from groups including Victim Support Scotland, Medics Against Violence and Mothers Against Murder and Aggression.

Mr Muir, 69, said his son's death was one of "the shameful violent statistics which have blighted the Scottish nation for decades".

And he claimed there had been "a very nearly criminal institutional failure" to tackle the problem of knife crime.

He added: "That failure is borne by the frequency of the disgraceful statistics which shame Scotland.

"However the statistics are real people. All and every one of the statistics represents a real victim and a person whose life has been taken or shattered, as well as their families and friends."

The father warned failure to "remove this menace decisively" would mean that "there will be more needless carnage on the streets of Scotland".

Mr Muir told the summit, taking place in Holyrood's main chamber, how his son's death had sparked his campaign.

Damian Muir, 34, was attacked in Greenock in July 2007 by 21-year-old Barry Gavin.

Gavin, who had twice avoided prison after being caught carrying knives, was later jailed for a minimum of 15 years.

Mr Muir said: "My son Damian Muir died at the hands of an individual who could have been prevented from such wickedness, had the appropriate action to avert this individual's destructive path been taken at the first opportunity."

He added: "If the circumstances of Damian's death were unique then I could have been persuaded to accept that his death was an isolated tragedy.

"However there was nothing unique or isolated. and most certainly it could have been avoided."

And he demanded: "Today must be the pivotal point in the fight against violent crime and in particular knife and weapon crime.

"What I'm trying to impress on this assembly is there surely should be no place for half measures where an individual has clearly demonstrated that they are engaged in a violent or potentially violent lifestyle.

"And when that person or individual arms themselves with a knife or other dangerous weapon there can be no half measures.

"Otherwise we will continue to have dangerous individuals at large and we will continue to have blood of our victims on our hands."