COURTS are imposing longer sentences for knife crime, figures showed today.
The average sentence for those convicted of handling an offensive weapon increased by 35% last year to more than seven months.
The increase – from 161 days to 217 days – was described by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill as a warning for youngster
s who carry a knife.
"We need to convince people that knives are lethal weapons. That means pursuing a twin approach of education and enforcement," said the minister.
"These statistics should act as a wake-up call for those people – generally young men – who think that carrying a knife brings with it protection.
"However rather than protection it is likely to bring a prison sentence – and a lengthy one at that."
The increase was disclosed in official figures on criminal court proceedings.
These showed the total number of people convicted in Scottish courts last year was 133,100, a drop of 1% on the previous year.
More than 83,000 of the convictions – 62% – resulted in a financial penalty, mostly a fine although 1,300 compensation orders were issued.
The total number of jail terms was just under 16,700, almost exactly the same as the previous year and one of the highest figures in the last 10 years.
The peak age of conviction for men was 18 – with 7% of all Scottish males convicted of a crime or offence like breach of the peace at least once during the year.
About 16% of all offences were committed while the offender was on bail, 1% up on the previous year.
The figures also show a 7% fall in driving offences, to 347,600.
Speeding offences accounted for 405 of the total.
Police issued more than 93,000 fixed-penalty notices for offences involving stationary vehicles – about two thirds of them for parking and one third for not showing a tax disc.
And councils issued 484,100 parking tickets last year, a 0.5% rise on the previous year.
Mr MacAskill said the figures showed high conviction rates in general.
"More people are being convicted for serious offences such as homicide and serious and indecent assault.
"And they also show that our courts are making use of the full range of the disposals available to them. That is to be welcomed."
But "credible" community service alternatives were needed in order to end the cycle of offending, he added.
"The evidence shows that short sentences simply don't do enough to tackle the revolving door of minor offending.
"Around three quarters of those jailed for six months or less re-offend within two years while three fifths of those given community orders are not re-convicted within two years."
