Anti-knife crime initiative extends to Lanarkshire

A hard-hitting knife crime campaign which has proven highly successful in educating young people about the dangers and consequences of carrying a knife is to be launched in the communities of North and South Lanarkshire.

The announcement follows a pledge by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill to double the funding of the award-winning scheme to ensure young people in more communities in Scotland can benefit from the No Knives Better Lives anti-knife crime campaign.

The scheme contributed to a 35 per cent reduction in knife carrying in Inverclyde and a 29 per cent reduction in knife carrying in neighbouring Renfrewshire during the period of campaigns there.

Under the initiative, a range of innovative tactics, targeted advertising in areas where young people are known to congregate, diversionary activities, work in schools and youth work interventions will be used to get the message across.

Attending today’s announcement during a visit to Hamilton, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, said:

“There is a culture of knife crime in parts of Scotland which stretches back decades and sadly, as we’ve seen from recent tragic events, communities continue to suffer the heartache of loved ones lost or injured as a result of knives.

“There are clearly no easy solutions but we want to do everything we possibly can to stop the next generation of young Scots from going down the wrong path in life.

“We know that the key to tackling knife crime is a combination of tough enforcement on the streets, backed by early intervention and education.

“That is why, on the streets, our police forces are taking a no-nonsense approach through carrying out a record number of stop and searches and our prosecutors are cracking down hard on those who are caught carrying and using knives through a strengthened prosecution policy announced by the Lord Advocate last year.

“Our courts in Scotland are also responding, discharging the toughest knife sentencing regime in the UK. The number of people carrying knives in Scotland is also down to its lowest level in a decade.

“However, we are all too aware that statistics will be of little comfort to the families of loved ones lost, which is why both the Lord Advocate and I are looking at whether there are any further changes or improvements can be made to our approach in tackling knife crime.

“We also need to tackle the root causes of knife crime and education is absolutely key. The No Knives Better Lives education campaign has been a real success during a pilot in Inverclyde with significant drops in the number of people carrying knives in the area.

“It is that combination of tough enforcement, backed by education, which is having a real impact on the ground and that is why I’ve doubled the funding of this important education initiative to allow us to roll out the tactics used to other areas of Scotland like North and South Lanarkshire.

“No Knives Better Lives is achieving impressive results and we hope that by bringing the successful tactics used to Lanarkshire, more youngsters will get the message that carrying a knife is not worth the risk.

“There will be absolutely no let up in our efforts because every knife incident is one too many.”

Councillor Eddie McAvoy, Leader of South Lanarkshire Council said: “We welcome the opportunity to align the Council’s ongoing programmes and projects which contribute to addressing issues and consequences surrounding knife crime as well as educating young people of the dangers of knife crime as part of the Scottish Government’s No Knives, Better Lives campaign.

“We will continue to work in partnership with young people in South Lanarkshire to develop effective initiatives in schools and communities and will further develop our programme of diversionary activities for young people at targeted times in the evenings and weekends.

“We hope that by now branding our work under No Knives, Better Lives, it will further raise awareness of the excellent work already being undertaken in our schools and communities.”

Councillor Jim McCabe, Leader of North Lanarkshire Council, said: “No Knives Better Lives is coming to North Lanarkshire and we are wholly behind the campaign which addresses the terrible consequences of knife crime. In North Lanarkshire we have a proven track record of engaging with young people through diversionary activities. The full programme of events on offer allows our young people to focus on sport not crime.”

Strathclyde Police Area Commander, Chief Inspector David Walker, said: “The No Knives Better Lives campaign is a welcome addition to the existing work in Lanarkshire aimed at tackling violent crime. We are confident that the initiative will go a long way to helping young people make the right choices when it comes to knife crime and choosing not to carry a knife.

“Knife crime affects everyone and for too long has blighted communities across Strathclyde. It simply will not be tolerated on our streets and residents should be reassured that together with our partners, young people and local community members, we will be unrelenting on this issue. Together we can make a difference and keep people safe.”

 Latest official statistics show that recorded crime is at its lowest level in 35 years, the number of people carrying an offensive weapon in Scotland is down to its lowest level in a decade, down 38 per cent since 2006-07, and those convicted of carrying a knife are now serving the longest prison sentences in a decade.

As well as supporting and promoting quality educational and diversionary activities for young people, the No Knives Better Lives team also seeks to reassure local residents that meaningful efforts are being made to improve safety in their community.