PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SDLP MLA BURNS: ALARMED BY INCREASE IN LOCAL KNIFE CRIME

SDLP South Antrim MLA Thomas Burns said he is alarmed by new figures which show an increase in knife crime in the Antrim area. The number of offences in which a knife was involved during the year 2007/08 was 35. The figure for the previous year was 16.

Mr Burns: “This data is very disturbing. It does seem that more and more young people are carrying knives these days. This culture of carrying bladed weapons for ‘self-defence’ seems to have become part of the everyday mindset of many people.

“Some see a knife as a status symbol or something that can protect them, but this is obviously not the case. The number of knife attacks which result in serious injuries and fatalities tell us that knives are not a tool of protection, but a deadly weapon.

He added: “The community has a role to play in the prevention of this crime. The message needs to be reinforced at home and in schools that carrying a knife does not make a person safer - it puts them in more danger.

“We also need to see greater co-operation between Westminster and the Assembly. It is obvious that the only way we can tackle this is through a united front involving the community, local politicians and lawmakers at a national level.

“The devolution of policing and justice is necessary to complete a joined-up approach to reducing knife crime. This is the missing piece of the puzzle. Once this is in place the PSNI can work with the Department of Education to tackle the problem head-on, but they must be backed by stronger legislation which really punishes offenders.”

ENDS