| During a three-week anti-violence blitz this month, one in four people stopped and searched was in possession of a knife.
Over 2000 knives were seized nationwide during the crackdown. While knife crime is relatively low in Tayside, compared to other force areas in Scotland, senior officers have stressed there is no place for complacency.
Since the start of the year, Tayside Police has recorded 61 incidents in which people were found in possession of knives.
The SNP government has pledged to deliver an extra 1000 police to help tackle knife crime.
And that pledge is one that needs to be acted upon with some haste, according to the Tory MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Elizabeth Smith.
“It is welcome news that Tayside Police seized 32 knives and other weapons during an anti-violence crackdown,” Ms Smith said. “However, there are still far too many people being injured or killed because they have been attacked with a knife or other dangerous weapon.
“It is visible community policing that is essential to combat such knife crime in Scotland.” Ms Smith said the SNP government could help tackle the problem by meeting its election promise of 1000 extra police officers.
“Tayside would have a further 72 police officers, some of whom could be used to deal with the problem,” she said. |
