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Crime Case Study: Knife Crime in Scotland. Aims:. Examine the problem of knife crime in Scotland. Consider measures which have been introduced to tackle knife crime. Success Criteria : You will produce a report about Knife Crime in Scotland and consider the arguments for
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Aims: Examine the problem of knife crime in Scotland. Consider measures which have been introduced to tackle knife crime. Success Criteria: You will produce a report about Knife Crime in Scotland and consider the arguments for and against mandatory jail sentences.
What Is Knife Crime? • Carrying or trying to buy a knife if you are under 18. • Threatening people with a knife. • Carrying a knife that is banned. • A murder where the victim was stabbed with a knife. • A robbery or burglary where the thieves carried the knife as a weapon. Knife crime has a direct link to gang crime and the drinking and fighting culture at weekends.
Panorama – Jailed For a Knife Crime • Part One • Part Two
Knife Crime in Scotland • This type of crime actually makes up a small percentage of total crimes in the UK. • However, the extent of the injuries which are caused by knife crime makes it a serious issue. • In recent years, there has been a great deal of news coverage about knife crime. • The SNP Government has made tackling knife crime a major priority – in 2010, 35 people were killed by a sharp instrument.
Tackling and Preventing Knife Crime • There has been a record increase in stop-and-search across Scotland – the police can stop and search anyone whom they have reasonable grounds for suspecting that they are carrying an offensive weapon or an article with a blade or point. • Education initiatives such as ‘No Knives, Better Lives’ have tried to education people about knife crime. • The courts can impose a four-year sentence on someone carrying a knife. • Since 2007 there has been a 30% in offensive weapons crime.
Mandatory Jail Sentences • Some campaigners argue there should be mandatory sentences (a set amount of years) for those carrying a knife or killing someone with a knife. • However critics argue there are better ways to tackle knife crime than increasing the number of people in prison.
Knife Crime Research • Pick one of the high profile stabbing cases on page 2 of your Knife Crime handout. • Using the internet carry out some research about this crime. • Think about what happened? Was anyone arrested for this crime? What punishment did they receive. • Aim to produce a short paragraph on the case you are researching.