Knife crime down 28% over Christmas

Mar 1 2013

Knife-related crime dropped 28% over the recent festive period, according to official figures.

The number of offences involving a knife or other sharp, bladed instrument, reported to the Crown Office by police, fell by over a quarter between December 1 2012 and January 4, compared with the previous year.

Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland QC, Scotland's top law officer, sent out a warning before Christmas that anyone caught with a knife could be prosecuted and handed a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

Commenting on the recent figures, he said: "The prosecution service's seasonal campaign aimed to help reduce the number of knife crime-related offences and increase the public's confidence in their personal safety. The significant reduction is very encouraging.

"The impact on the numbers of cases is positive in that there is a decrease in the knife crime offences being reported. This builds on the equally significant reduction of 18% for the previous festive period.

"Although there is no tangible proof, I believe that due to the significant reduction in knife crime for the last festive period, lives will have been saved. However we are not complacent and we will continue to work with the police, the Violence Reduction Unit and the Scottish Government to enforce our knife crime policies and continue to use other innovative ways of tackling knife crime in Scotland."

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "The significant drop in the number of knife offences during the Crown Office festive campaign is very positive and underlines the continuing commitment of prosecutors, police, government and partners working with young people to tackle knife crime.

"Working together we are making progress. But we recognise there is always more to be done. We believe the best way to do this is through a combination of tough enforcement and education, such as the No Knives Better Lives campaign and the work of Violence Reduction Unit to tackle the root causes of violence and end this blight on our communities."

Karyn McCluskey, director of the Violence Reduction Unit, said: "Violent crime is at its lowest level for 30 years and that's due to the good work being done by police and justice services across the country, and also to the preventative work being carried out through projects like Medics Against Violence, No Knives Better Lives and the campus officers scheme.

"However, we cannot rest on our laurels. There are still people in Scotland who think it is acceptable to carry and use a knife. The continued work of the Lord Advocate, the police, the VRU and a whole range of other partners, including government, health, education and communities, sends a clear message that this behaviour is not acceptable."