20/6/2008
“Wilson: knife crime figures are disturbing”
East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson has said that figures detailing the extent of knife crime in Northern Ireland are disturbing.
Mr Wilson said: “The fact is that over the course of the last 5 years, over 450 youngsters under the age of 18 have been the victims of knife crime. Unfortunately the numbers of victims each year appear to be on the rise. In 06/07 there were 260 victims of knife crime. Last year this number rose to 423.
It is time to put a stop to this worrying trend of increase knife crime in Northern Ireland, and steps must be taken to ensure that this happens.
I have no doubt that the vast majority of these young people attacked with knives were targeted by people of a similar age to themselves
It can't be right that a young person can walk into a shop and purchase a blade up to 10 or 12 inches in length.
No person could have a legitimate reason for wanting to own such an offensive weapon and I welcome the news that the new Criminal Justice Order will mean that knives can no longer be sold to under 18s. Almost a third of victims of knife crime are under 18 and I hope that the new CJO will help to greatly reduce this figure.
We also need better education for young people regarding knives and we need to covey to them the fact that by carrying a knife you are in fact more likely to be a victim of knife crime. The notion that you are safer by carrying a knife needs to be rubbished as it is simply not true.
ENDS
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