Three people a week found guilty of knife crime in Capital

THE number of people in Edinburgh convicted of carrying a knife in public has soared by almost 70 per cent in the past five years, it emerged today.

The most recent statistics show 165 adults were guilty of being in possession of a blade in the city – an average of around three a week. That is in addition to the twelve under-18s with a charge proved for the same offence.

It comes as the issue of knife crime in the Capital has again shot to the top of the agenda following three stabbing incidents inside a week.

The figures, which are for the year 2006-7, show a dramatic rise since 2002-3 when 98 adults were found guilty of having a blade in Edinburgh.

But police are adamant the increased convictions demonstrate that initiatives and crackdowns are working and more people are getting caught, rather than more people leaving the house with a knife in their pocket.

And Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill praised the police for their efforts.

The same figures showed a smaller rise in convictions since 2002-3 for similar offences in West Lothian, while in East Lothian they dropped.

Lothians Tory MSP Gavin Brown called for automatic prison sentences for people convicted of carrying a knife.

He said: "The recent spate of knife incidents is very worrying indeed and we need to get the message across that carrying a knife is wholly unacceptable. I believe that the only way to do this is proposing that anyone convicted of knife crime should expect to go to jail.

"Right now, what is required is a zero-tolerance approach to knife crime. We must make it absolutely clear that fiscal fines and other direct measures are inappropriate for knife crime of any kind."

But Mr MacAskill said sentencing matters should be left to the judiciary and the independent sentencing council being set up by the Scottish Government.

He said: "It's all part of the strenuous effort by Lothian and Borders Police to tackle knives.

"There have been some recent nasty incidents and we need to make sure a knife culture does not permeate into Edinburgh.

"Clearly anyone who uses a knife would almost certainly go to jail. Possession of a knife is a significant problem and we need to make sure people are aware of the seriousness of their action, but it is best dealt with by a sentencing council, which can take on board the public's views, and ultimately by the judiciary."

A police spokesman said: "This is a testament to the pro-active approach we take to getting dangerous weapons off our streets.

"The use of doorway metal detectors at pubs and clubs, intelligence-led searches of individuals, and checks on public transport have all been undertaken as part of this effort.

"In addition, the Edinburgh Violence Reduction Programme and the Unight scheme, where individuals face a lifetime ban from the city's nightclubs if they are caught with a knife on the premises, demonstrate our ongoing commitment to tackling violent crime."