McNeil Backs National Knife Amnesty
MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan
McNeil, says plans for a national knife amnesty will step up the drive to tackle
knife crime and violence in Inverclyde.
The
four week amnesty will begin on 24th May and is the first stage of a
wider Safer Scotland Anti-Violence Campaign.
Anyone who has a knife will be asked to surrender it at their local
police station and will not be prosecuted for possession of the weapon.
Welcoming
the plans, Mr McNeil said:
“This
knife amnesty is just the latest effort by the Scottish Parliament and the local
police to make our streets and communities safer.
Initiatives like this have proved successful in reducing crime levels in
the past.”
Mr
McNeil also had a stark warning for those who carry knives:
“You
might think you’re only carrying a blade for protection and that you’d never
become a murderer. But, when coupled with drink or drugs, these weapons do lead
to bloodshed.
“If
you don’t get rid of your knife during this amnesty, you’ll have no excuses
and will soon be looking at four years in jail.
“And,
if you know someone who carries a knife, urge them to hand it in –
you’ll be doing them and our community a favour.”
The
12 month Safer Scotland Anti-Violence campaign is being jointly run by the
Executive, Violence Reduction Unit and Association of Chief Police Officers in
Scotland to tackle the culture of violence in Scotland.
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 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.
ENDS
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