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Safer Scotland Anti-violence Campaign

Shop a Knife Carrier

Police are urging Scots to ‘shop a knife carrier’ and call Crimestoppers.

As the nationwide knife amnesty draws to a close, the Safer Scotland campaign has joined forces with the anonymous crime-line to encourage members of the public to report people who carry weapons in their local communities.

Members of the public have until midnight on Friday 30 June to surrender their knives and offensive weapons. Afterwards police will launch an intelligence gathering and enforcement phase as part of the year-long anti-violence campaign.

The aim is to take as many knives and offensive weapons off the streets of Scotland as possible. Posters will be distributed across Scotland urging members of the public to make that potentially life-saving call.

Chief Inspector McGuire from the Safer Scotland co-ordination unit, said:

“There’s just a few days left for people to hand in their weapons – there has been plenty of time for people to make that potentially life saving decision and surrender their knives.

“The message today is clear - this is your final chance – because after June 30 police across Scotland will be out in force pro-actively targeting people who still think it’s acceptable to carry weapons.”

People in communities across Scotland are now being urged to pick up the phone and call Crimestoppers.

Detective Inspector Jim Dunbar from Crimestoppers Scotland explained:

“This is an ideal opportunity for law-abiding members of the public to help make their communities safer. If you do have information about someone who is carrying or using a knife or other offensive weapon, please take the time, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“It only takes a minute to phone and calls are anonymous – all we want is your information, not your name. You can help to play your part and build a Safer Scotland.”

Background Information

Crimestoppers is a registered charity. Every call to 0800 555 111 is treated with absolute anonymity, so that no one knows the identity of the caller. People are not asked to give their name and calls are not traced or recorded. For more information on Crimestoppers, log on to www.crimestoppers-uk.org

National Knife Amnesty

Central Scotland Police is supporting the national knife amnesty. Distinctive red bins have been placed in every police station in Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire.

Officers are urging anyone who plans on carrying a knife to dump it in one of the bins in the police station foyers.

Chief Inspector Bob Hutchison in in charge of Central Scotland Police's activity in relation to the ongoing Safer Scotland campaign and the amnesty. He said: "Fortunately in Central Scotland knife crime is not as prevalent as it is elsewhere.

"But even if one knife is carried on our streets, it's one knife too many. Anyone carrying a knife may not set out with the intention of taking someone's life – but sadly that's all too often the consequences of knife-carrying.

"The amnesty is running until Friday June 30 2006. If you want to dump your knife, dump it before that deadline. Afterwards new guidelines will be in place for police officers and the courts who will be adopting a tougher approach to knife-carrying."

Jamieson Urges Blades Hand-in As Knifes Amnesty Gets Underway

Bin your knife, it could save a life – that was the stark message from Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson as she joined the police to launch a national knife amnesty.

From the 24th May until the end of June, anyone handing in a blade to the police will not be prosecuted for possession while they are handing it in. For the first time, the amnesty will operate right across Britain, with the Home Office working with police forces south of the border.

Research after the four-week Operation Blade in Strathclyde in 1993 shows that a well-planned amnesty can have a substantial impact. More than 4500 weapons were surrendered in Strathclyde alone and in the subsequent 12 months murder rates fell by 26 per cent, attempted murder by 19 per cent, serious assault by 14 per cent and offensive weapons possession by 23 per cent.

Cathy Jamieson said:

“It is worrying to hear young people say they carry a blade for their own protection. The fact is that carrying a knife makes a night out more likely to end in bloodshed not less.

“People who start the night as the best of friends can end up on hospital beds or mortuary slabs – simply because they reached for a weapon. Start with a blade, throw in some drink or drugs and you create an explosive cocktail – with serious consequences for the perpetrator, their families and their whole community.

“I recognise that a knife amnesty alone cannot provide a long-term solution to tackling violence. However, alongside work to challenge the underlying culture and ‘acceptability’ of carrying knives among some young men, it will support our efforts to create safer daily lives for the people of Scotland.

“We have done a lot in terms of the law – we’re tightening up legislation in the Police Bill, giving the police more powers. The Lord Advocate is making changes to prosecution policy, clamping down harder on those who persist in carrying blades. So I say today to those with a knife – take this opportunity to get rid of it. Clear your conscience and help clear the streets of these deadly weapons.”

Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan, head of the Violence Reduction Unit, said:

“The knife amnesty is only one element in a 12 month long campaign aimed at tackling the culture of violence. A weapons surrender alone will not solve this deep rooted problem, however, it is part of the contain and manage phase of our long term violence reduction strategy.

“The amnesty is an opportunity for people to make that potentially life saving decision and hand in their locking knife or whatever weapon they chose to carry.

“I would appeal to anyone who carries a knife or who’s considering carrying one, to think twice.

“No one leaves home with the intention of becoming a murderer, but that’s the chance you take if you carry a knife. I’d also appeal to parents – ask yourself the question – do you know if your son leaves home carrying a knife?”

The amnesty will be followed up by an intelligence gathering, then enforcement phase.

Det Chief Supt Carnochan added:

“I want to warn knife carriers now, that after the amnesty we will be coming after you. Then when people are caught - whether they’re engaging in violent behaviour or carrying a weapon - we will make sure they are brought before a court as quickly as possible.

“In the weeks and months ahead, we will be going after the most violent individuals who carry knives and engage in violent behaviour.

“We want to send out a strong message to individuals who engage in violent behaviour and carry weapons, that it’s no longer safe to carry a knife - because if you do, you will get stopped, searched and arrested.”

Violent Offenders Targeted in Warrants Blitz

Dozens of people wanted on warrant for violent offences in Central Scotland have been traced by police.

Over the last four weeks, a total of 772 warrants for violent offences have been executed by the Scottish Police Service, with 30 of these in Central Scotland.

The month-long blitz is part of a 12 month Safer Scotland anti-violence campaign.

Launched on Monday 3 April, the warrants initiative, was the first phase of the year-long crackdown on violence.

Forces, including Central Scotland, were encouraged to prioritise and target their most violent offenders wanted on warrant for murder, attempted murder, serious and petty assault (including police assault) and weapons carrying.

On Monday 3 April, 1,431 warrants for violence were outstanding in Scotland – as of Sunday 30 April 54 per cent of these warrants have now been executed and police plan to continue the clean up.

In Central Scotland 30 people were arrested on outstanding warrant for serious and petty assault.

Chief Inspector Bob Hutchison is Central Scotland’s lead officer for Safer Scotland, he said:

“This has been a particularly busy time for Central Scotland Police, however, we have given our commitment to the Safer Scotland campaign and officers made a real effort to execute these outstanding warrants.

“We are working extremely hard to make Central Scotland a safer place and the warrants initiative is one strand in our on-going campaign to build a Safer Central.”

Chief Inspector Alex McGuire from the Safer Scotland co-ordination unit, added:

“The warrants crackdown is only one element in our year-long anti-violence campaign. Police execute warrants for all types of crimes on a daily basis, however, for the last four weeks we’ve asked them to focus on outstanding warrants for the most violent offences. Now 772 people are being dealt with by the criminal justice system.

“However, this doesn’t mean that forces have been neglecting warrants for other offences, we’ve simply been asking them to prioritise their warrants system and where possible, to dedicate extra resources to it.

“We will continue to target these warrants in the run up to the nationwide knife amnesty, which will run from May 24 to the end of June. We are committed to making the streets of Scotland safer for everyone.”

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