News In Focus
24 February 2010
Knives are Scotland’s most used murder weapon
Amid a drop in Scotland's homicide rate, 58% of all murders and culpable homicides involved knives, swords and other blades in 2008-09, up from 48% in the previous year.
According to statistics issued by the Scottish Government, 57 people were killed by people wielding blades in 2008-09, compared to 55 in 2007-08 and 54 in 2006-07.
Opposition politicians said the figures showed the need to introduce tough sentences for knife crime, with both Labour and the Conservatives reiterating their calls for mandatory jail time for carrying a knife.
Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker said the increase in the percentage of knife murders was "deeply worrying", restating his party's desire for a mandatory six-month sentence for those caught with a knife.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said progress was being made on violent crime, but insisted tackling Scotland's problem with drink and drugs was the more pressing issue.
To download the full report into Homicide in Scotland, 2008-09, click here