| Ms Glen today released the contents of a dossier she received from Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson which contained statistics showing there were 389 proven cases knife carrying and possession of an offensive weapon across the region between 1999-2003.
A 39% increase in Tayside of people found in possession of offensive weapons was the biggest rise anywhere in Scotland.
Police had acknowledged a creeping rise in the culture of carrying weapons but believed their pro-active approach — including the Dundee city centre DUNCAN campaign — was resulting in more culprits being caught.
“I wrote to the Justice Minister seeking these crime statistics following a report from DUNCAN, showing a reported increase in the number of people found to be carrying knives in the city centre,” she said.
“These local figures on knife crime, along with similar figures from elsewhere in Scotland, show the Scottish Executive are absolutely right to make the cracking down on knife crime a priority.
“The law in Scotland must be clear — the system must protect innocent victims.
“The culture of Scotland in relation to knives and violent crime must change.”
A consultation paper — Tackling Knife Crime — was announced at the end of June and it seeks proposals for further tightening the sale of non-domestic knives and restricting the sale of swords.
Stealth knives and batons have already been added to the list of prohibitive weapons under new legislation coming into force later this year.
Ms Jamieson said the Executive are seeking to double the maximum penalty for carrying a knife, increase the legal age at which blades can be bought from 16 to 18 and strengthen the police powers of arrest for carrying the weapon. |
