Knife culture: 'The warnings are not getting through to all'

IT is worrying enough that any member of society wishes to carry a knife.

But when the culprits are as young as primary school age it should be a matter of grave concern, and it can only be hoped the majority do so in a misguided and juvenile effort to impress their peers rather than through a perceived need to defend themselves.

The police and politicians through stop-and-search operations and tougher legislation have done much in recent years to discourage the carrying of offensive weapons.

Yesterday at the Conservative party conference in Perth, Scottish leader Annabel Goldie raised the stakes in the debate when she called for a minimum sentence of two years for knife crime.

Labour has proposed a minimum one-year sentence at Sheriff Court level and up to five years in the High Court. Naturally no-one deems such punishments suitable for a child but the recent evidence – including today's figures obtained by the News – tends to suggest that the warnings are not getting through to all.

But it is difficult to eradicate the problem as potentially lethal weapons remain readily available from a variety of sources – not least of all the average kitchen.

There has been much talk recently of raising the age where a child can be held criminally liable from eight to 12. There are sound arguments for such a change, but evidence like today's makes it more difficult to argue the case. When someone carries a knife for anything other than a legitimate purpose there must be a presumption that they are prepared to use it, making them subject to the full force of the law. And even eight-year-olds must be judged to be old enough to know what they are doing is wrong, even if their crimes must be prosecuted more sensitively than those of adults.

Welcome support
AT a time when there is so much uncertainty over future funding and sponsorship for Edinburgh's Festivals and special events it is refreshing to see that the government is making some attempt to support them.

And it is even more pleasing to see that the £1million that is has pledged over the next two years will be spent on providing opportunities for home-grown artistes to showcase their talent at the Fringe.

With competition from other cities in the UK and abroad increasing all the time it is vital that Edinburgh maintains the high culture standards that it has set. But this takes money and in the midst of an economic downturn future sponsorship of flagship events cannot be taken for granted. The city's Festivals bring economic benefits to the whole of Scotland . . . so it is right that the government continues to support them.