Time for a coordinated crackdown on knife crime

The Scottish Government has published statistics on the number of homicides in the last year. They show that the number of homicide cases has increased and that the percentage of crimes carried out with a sharp instrument is at a ten year high.

These statistics come after figures yesterday revealed that one in six of those convicted of homicide do not go to prison.

Scottish Conservative Justice Spokesman David McLetchie MSP said:

"It is time for a coordinated crackdown on knife crime. Our courts should be handing out exemplary prison sentences to those who carry knives and use them to commit serious assaults and murders.

"This approach has worked in the past and can do so again. Too often those jailed for knife attacks are allowed out under early release and do not serve their full sentence. The SNP's soft touch policy on sentencing undermines our efforts to tackle this problem.

"Knife criminals should serve their full sentence to protect the public and ensure they pay their debt to society in full."

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