Get tough on knife crime urges Scottish Federation

The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) has called on a new Scottish government to reconsider the ways in which knife crime is tackled in the country.

The general secretary of the SPF this week said that the majority of knife crime occurs in areas where the police have little or no influence and a “more sophisticated response” is needed by whichever party eventually comes into power after the elections in May.

A detailed analysis by BBC Scotland found that the proportion of murders caused by knives has remained static and while the law has been strengthened to prevent the carrying of knives in public, statistics show the vast majority of murders happen in the home, where police are not present.

Calum Steele, general secretary of the SPF, said: “The motivation to carry a knife may be influenced by jailing all carriers, but the motivation to use a knife demands a more sophisticated response.

“It remains a stubborn truth that too many murders occur in areas where the police have little ability to patrol and influence behaviour, such as the family home.”

Last week, Scotland’s key political parties made a number of pledges in their election campaigns promising to fight crime. Scottish Labour said it will introduce mandatory jail terms for people caught carrying knives.

However, Mr Steel voiced his concerns over such proposals and said that jail terms will not combat the problem.

“A mandatory sentence for carrying a knife is not going to solve the problem of people that are being murdered in their own homes.

“There are many murders that take place in domestic premises in Scotland where police officers don`t have the ability to influence patterns of behaviour. Any banning of knives or mandatory sentences for people carrying knives in public will not tackle that particular problem,” he added.

Knife crime, according to the SPF, is part of a wider issue which also relates to alcohol.
Mr Steele added: “The reality is that alcohol is almost certainly a far greater contributor to serious and violent instances within the home than almost anything else, and that’s something that needs to be addressed.

“You have a toxic mix of individuals who misuse and abuse alcohol, are prone to violence and have access to domestic kitchen knives.”

However, Iain Gray, leader of Scottish Labour, said those convicted for carrying a knife should go to jail.

Speaking at the SPF Conference in Aviemore on Tuesday (April 19), Mr Gray said: “I have made it clear that Labour will get rid of the presumption against short prison sentences and we will also take tough action on knife crime.

“Labour also believes that it’s time to send a message to knife criminals that if they are caught carrying a knife they will go to jail. This is not about people carrying pruning knives in their garden, or sgian-dubh in their socks. Anyone who says it is mocks the demands for justice of knife crime victims and their families. This is about those convicted of carrying an offensive weapon and 70 per cent of them don’t go to jail.”

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have pledged to tackle knife crime by cracking down on Scotland’s gang culture.

A spokesperson for the party said: “Ninety per cent of people jailed for knife crime have already been in prison. Prison is not a deterrent for most offenders.”

The Scottish National Party (SNP) added that despite crime falling in the country by 30 per cent, more needed to be done.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: “Under the SNP, knife crime has fallen by 30 per cent, but there is more to do and we must tackle Scotland’s booze and blade culture, and that means taking action against the cheap alcohol that fuels violence both inside and outside the home.”