7% rise in thugs caught carrying lethal weapons

RECORDED knife crime in Scotland is soaring – despite the official counting system hiding some offences.

There were 1720 incidents of people carrying offensive weapons, including knives, in the first half of 2016-17, more than seven per cent more than the 1604 in the same period of 2015-16.

Police Scotland figures show 627 people were caught carrying offensive weapons in the first two quarters of 201617, up from 594 in the same period the previous year.

But another 1093 were found handling a “bladed or pointed instrument”, up from 1010 in 2015-16, a rise of more than 8%.

Together the two categories led to a combined total for incidents of weapon carrying of 1720, up from 1604 the previous year – a rise of more than 7%.

Meanwhile almost two-thirds of thugs found with knives and other offensive weapons were spared prison in 2015, in favour of discredited Community Payback Orders or even fines.

An example came in a 2012 court case, after a knife-wielding teen broke into the Edinburgh home of Charles and Anne Murphy.

The then 15-yearold slashed Mr Murphy’s face and threatened to kill the couple.

But after social workers compiled a “positive” social work report on the youth, he was handed an 18-month Community Payback Order and 225 hours of community service.

Other research has shown that up to 90% of teenagers caught carrying knives and other weapons each year walk free without a conviction or criminal record.