Crackdown on knife crime in Caithness
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LOCAL law enforcers have promised a “no-nonsense approach” to knife crime as the chief legal officer for Scotland bids to completely eliminate the threat in town centres.
The Lord Advocate, Frank Mulholland QC, has announced a zero tolerance crackdown on knife carrying over the next six weeks in a pilot project targeting Scotland’s town and city centres – with offenders now facing up to four years’ imprisonment.
In Caithness, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is maintaining a united front with Northern Constabulary in upholding the spirit of the crackdown.
Chief Inspector Matthew Reiss said that knife crime is not a huge issue in the Far North but he said that it is something that officers deal with “robustly” when it does crop up.
“People who carry knives need to be aware that the police will not pussyfoot around,” said the chief inspector. “If someone is suspected of carrying a knife officers will use a no-nonsense approach for the safety of the public and, of course, themselves.”
He added: “The safety of the public comes first along with the safety of the officers who on occasion have to disarm and arrest these people.”
Wick Sheriff Court’s senior fiscal depute David Barclay explained that offenders can also expect to be dealt with in an appropriate manner when they enter the court system.
“The Lord Advocate has updated the Crown office guidance for the prosecution of knife crimes and as an organisation we take a robust approach to this,” said Mr Barclay
“Those found in possession of a knife, or indeed any kind of offensive weapon, can expect to be dealt with in a firm manner.
“In particular the possession and use of weapons within the town centre areas is to be clamped down upon.”
The initiative will operate the festive period.
Anyone caught with a knife in a town or city centre will be arrested and prosecuted before a sheriff and jury, resulting in a potential increase from a maximum prison term of one year to four years.
The Lord Advocate said this new initiative further strengthens the Scottish Government’s prosecution policy on those caught with a knife.
“The public will wish to enjoy the festive period in our towns and cities without fear,” he said. “The zero tolerance crackdown should help to deter anyone stupid enough to think about carrying a knife.
“If the threat of severe penalties for breaking the law deters the serious offence of knife carrying and prevents one act of violence it will have been a success”.
The initiative was also backed by justice secretary Kenny MacAskill who said tackling knife crime is an “absolute priority” for the Government.
“We have made clear that Scotland’s prosecutors and the courts have my full backing in using the full force of the law to punish anyone who carries or uses a knife,” said Mr MacAskill.
“We believe the key to tackling knife crime is a combination of tough enforcement on the streets, backed by education.”
The justice secretary said that this approach is working as the number of people caught carrying an offensive weapon is down to its lowest level in a decade, and those caught carrying a knife in Scotland are now being punished by being sentenced to the longest prison sentences for this crime in a decade.
