Minister pledges to tackle NI knife culture

Criminal Justice Minister David Hanson is to announce a re-run of the knife amnesty in Northern Ireland later this year.

The announcement is due to be made at a major summit to address knife crime, where the Minister will set out Government proposals to tackle the problem and ask for support from business and civic leaders and those working with young people to play their part.

Prior to the summit Mr Hanson said: “The public rightly have real concerns about knife crime, concerns which we share, and which we are acting upon. As part of this the Government has decided that it will introduce another knives amnesty towards the end of November.”

At today's summit, delegates from across Northern Ireland will have the opportunity to give their views on the consultation document ‘The Law on Knives in Northern Ireland’, published by the Government on July 19 2006, and is due to end on October 13 1006.

Mr Hanson continued: “Today’s summit is about the Government listening to your experiences, your views and your ideas. Today is also about learning and understanding this thing called the knife culture. It’s hearing from the community what the origins of this climate are and how we can change things. How we can get under the surface of the criminality aspect and learn about young people in particular and knives.

“I would urge everyone to become involved in confronting knife crime. That may mean raising the issue in your own organisation or business with your colleagues. For those of you who work closely with young people, it may mean encouraging them to think about the dangers that knives can bring.

“We can all teach our children of the dangers and misery of knife crime.”

Tough new measures being considered to combat knife crime include sting operations on traders suspected of selling knives to under-age people and increased sentences for those who carry knives.

The Minister added that the consultation will look at how the government can further strengthen laws to deter people from carrying knives and other dangerous weapons by increasing the penalties for knife crimes therefore sending out a strong signal that we will not tolerate the illegal carrying or use of knives.

He praised the work that has already taken place to combat knife crime but said we all need to do more.

He said: “We have had a successful knives amnesty in Northern Ireland and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Police and the District Councils for their successful management of the scheme.

“A public information campaign was also launched on the same day as the start of the amnesty and the PSNI is working with local schools to teach pupils about the dangers of knives. This scheme has already reached 3000 young people in Northern Ireland.

“It is vital that we all build upon this excellent work to make Northern Ireland a better and safer place to live.”

(EF/SP)