Time for Action on Knives

Wendy reveals 2000 people knifed last year

Wendy has called on MSPs to back her party’s plans to take tough action against knife criminals as the party revealed that almost 2000 people were admitted to hospital after knife attacks last year.

A Parliamentary Question revealed that there were 1,857 admissions to hospital due to assault by a sharp object in 2008-09. Over the same period, there were 3,688 acute occupied bed days across NHS Scotland associated with assault by a sharp object.

Wendy spoke out as it was confirmed that dozens of knife crime campaigners from across Scotland will be coming to the Parliament to show their support for a change in the law.

The group of campaigners will place a number of red carnations outside the Parliament at 1.00pm on Wednesday – each one signifying the family member or friend that they have lost to knife crime.

Wendy said:

“Today MSPs have a choice to make. We can take tough action and back our plans on minimum mandatory sentences or do what the SNP and the Lib Dems MSPs are proposing which is precisely nothing.

“Almost 2000 people were knifed last year. Over 50 people were killed by knife criminals. Doing nothing is not an option

“Labour’s plans on tackling knife crime are already in the Bill after the Justice Committee backed Labour’s proposals. Kenny MacAskill will try and take it those plans out despite 30,000 Scots telling him he’s wrong.

“Knife campaigners from across Scotland will be coming to the Parliament on Wednesday wanting their voice heard. It’s time that MSPs listened.”

Kelly McGee whose brother Paul was murdered by a knife criminal has written to all MSPS calling for action on knives, in her letter she wrote:

“If your beautiful son or brother was murdered by a repeat offender and a convicted knife criminal how would you feel?  Would you just sit back and think “this is just a part of life”?  Would you simply go with party policy? I suggest that you would in fact fight to ensure that such a horrific crime would not happen to another family.  If a minimum sentence for knife carriers can save one family from the pain and distress that we are suffering then it is worthwhile.”