8th August 2005
Justice
Minister to Visit Weapons Court
Justice
Minister, Cathy Jamieson, is to see Greenock’s pioneering weapons court in
action.
She
will sit in on a number of cases when she visits the fast-track court - the
first of its kind in Scotland - on 18th August at the invitation of MSP for
Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil.
Mr
McNeil, who has launched a petition to toughen the law on knife crime, says
that, by ensuring offenders know they will be met with swift justice, the court
can help protect the local community from knife crime.
He said:
“It’s
a sad fact that knife-related deaths account for more than 50% of all recorded
homicides in Scotland. Too many
people, especially in the west of Scotland, still harbour the bizarre notion
that carrying a knife is somehow normal. That
culture must change.
“To
do that, we need tougher laws - and to leave offenders in no doubt that breaking
these laws will be met with swift justice.
“That
is why this court, which fast-tracks those accused of weapons offences, is so
important and I am delighted that the Minister will get to see it in action for
herself.
“Hopefully,
if she’s impressed, this initiative could be copied across the country,
helping to protect other communities from the scourge of knife crime.”
ENDS
Notes
Mr
McNeil’s petition demands that the Scottish Executive:
The
public consultation on the reform of the law relating to knife crime runs until
30th September 2005. Constituents
can sign the petition on-line, or obtain
a
petition form from Mr McNeil’s
constituency office - (01475) 791820.
ENDS
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