This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Crackdown on knife crime
22/11/2004
A five-point plan aimed at stamping out knife crime,
including potential four-year prison sentences and a
licensing scheme for the sale of non-domestic knives, has
been adopted by the Executive
At a media briefing session in Edinburgh today, First
Minister Jack McConnell said:
"It is my strong view, and it is a view shared by
Cabinet, that far too many young men particularly in
Scotland view the carrying or using of knives or offensive
weapons as an acceptable practice. It is not
acceptable.
"The law in Scotland must be clear, the system must
protect innocent victims, and the culture of Scotland in
relation to knives and violent crime must change."
The plan involves:
- A licensing scheme for the sale of non-domestic
knives and similar objects
- Increasing the minimum purchasing age from 16 to
18
- Banning the sale of swords
- The Executive wants to ensure police make more use
of stop and search powers and Ministers also want
police to have the power of arrest on suspicion of
carrying knives or offensive weapons
- Ministers are also proposing to double the sentence
for possessing a knife or offensive weapon from two
years to four