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24 May 2006
For immediate release
Kitty Welcomes Government's National Knife Amnesty
Burnley MP, Kitty Ussher has welcomed the start of the Government's National Knife Amnesty which began today and will run until 30 June. The amnesty will be backed up by a tough police enforcement campaign to drive home the message that carrying knives is not acceptable.
In Burnley, the amnesty is being run as part of Operation Summer Nights, Lancashire Police's summer campaign that aims to reduce crime and disorder, which this year focuses on criminal damage. In Lancashire, between January 2003 and December 2005 nearly 20 per cent of all knife crime involved criminal damage.
Kitty Ussher MP today endorsed the drive to tackle knife crime and violence in Burnley and across the UK.
Kitty said:
“This knife amnesty is about creating safer streets throughout our town. And the message of the campaign is simple - if you think you're protecting yourself by carrying a knife, you're not. Too many people think that carrying a knife will make them safer but the reality is quite the opposite. People run the real risk of having the knife turned back on them or seriously injuring or killing someone in circumstances when they may have had no intention of hurting anyone.
Previous amnesties have succeeded in taking many deadly weapons off our streets and I urge people to do the right thing for our community now - stop carrying knives and hand any you have over to the police. Remember this is a chance for you to come clean without fear of prosecution - but it is only for a limited time.”
Carrying knives is illegal and can result in up to four years in prison. Special bins where people can deposit their knives safely are available at Burnley Police Station or they can also be handed directly to any Police Officer. All knives can be handed in anonymously – the police won’t ask for any details and the knives won’t be routinely forensically tested unless the Police receive specific intelligence to suggest that a particular knife being handed in has been used in a crime.
The amnesty will target those who carry knives and offensive weapons. A public campaign supporting the amnesty will urge people to hand in their knives during the five week period, when they will be immune from prosecution for possessing them.
The Violent Crime Reduction Bill, currently before the House of Lords, will strengthen the laws on knives still further.
Ends
Notes to Editors
1. Current legislation
* It is an offence to carry a knife in public without good reason or lawful authority, with the exception of a folding pocket-knife with a blade not exceeding three inches. Those found guilty face a penalty of up to two years imprisonment. Possession of an offensive weapon without lawful authority or reasonable excuse carries a maximum penalty of 4 years imprisonment. Certain knives, such as flick-knives, are categorised as offensive weapons.
* Manufacture, sale and importation of 17 bladed, pointed and other offensive weapons have been banned, in addition to flick knives and gravity knives. This includes stealth knives, disguised knives and batons which were banned in 2002 and 2004.
* It is an offence to market a knife in a way which indicates that it is suitable for combat, or is otherwise likely to stimulate violent behaviour. The police have powers to stop and search for knives and offensive weapons, in certain circumstances.
2. The Violent Crime Reduction Bill, which is currently going through the House of Lords, contains measures which:
* increase the age at which a person can be sold a knife from 16 to 18.
* introduce powers for head teachers to search pupils for knives and offensive weapons.
* create a new offence of using another person to mind a weapon, and includes an aggravating factor on sentencing if the person involved is a child.
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Kitty is a regular contributor to parliamentary debates, asking questions of ministers on behalf of her constituents.
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In addition to her weekly column in Friday's Burnley Express, Kitty also writes for the Guardian on-line politics page as well as Tribune newspaper  |
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