TOWN'S KNIFE CRIME SHAME

Amanda Keenan Amanda Keenan - 1637 • Published 17 Jul 2008 13:00

"CARRY a knife and you will go to jail" - that"s the stark message a top police chief is warning all Barrhead neds.

The move comes after the number of violent knife attacks in the town increased by 25 per cent compared to last year"s figures.

Disturbingly there have been two attempted murders and 13 stabbings in Barrhead in the past 12 weeks.

Now in a bid to stop knife attacks, cops are getting tough on troublesome teens and will carry out "stop and searches" on the town"s streets.

Speaking exclusively to the Barrhead News, Chief Inspector Kenny Graham, said: 'If you carry a knife we will make sure you go to jail.'

Inspector Graham added: 'Knife crime is a major concern for our force and we are determined to rid the streets of Barrhead of people who carry blades and use them in often unprovoked attacks.

'Anyone who thinks they can get away with committing a knife crime is wrong.

'We are working with the Scottish Government and the Criminal Justice System to increase jail terms for knife thugs.'

'The only way to reduce knife crime is to jail offenders.'

And over the past 12 weeks there have been an alarming number of stabbings in Barrhead these include:

May 8: A 25-year-old male slashed across his face at Braeside Dive.

May 12: A 28-year-old male attacked with a machete Craighead Way

May 28: 16-year-old Darren Docherty was left for dead after being brutally stabbed on Salterland Road.

June 4: Two men aged 20 and 21 left with serious injuries after being stabbed on Paisley Road.

June 6: 21-year-old male rushed to hospital after being stabbed in the stomach in Stormyland Way

June 12: 60 year-old male stabbed on the head in Aurs Drive.

June 25: 15 and 16-year old males allegedly stabbed at Rouken Glen Park

July 9: 18-year-old stabbed on the leg in Barnes Street.

July 9: 17-year-old stabbed in the leg on Newton Avenue.

July 14: 52-year-old male stabbed in Newton Drive

July 14: 17-year-old stabbed in Main Street

Now police are promising to make the streets of Barrhead safer by patrolling trouble-spots.

Inspector Graham added: 'It is my intention to increase patrols in the town to catch these thugs who carry knives before they get the opportunity to use them.

'Knife crime is one of the major concerns in the West of Scotland and all police forces are working together to reduce the number of violent attacks.' The bid by Mr Graham to reduce knife crime is being welcomed by East Renfrewshire"s community safety convener, Councillor Mary Montague.

Councillor Montague said: 'Knife crime has been a feature of Scottish life for far too long now.

'Carrying a weapon is more likely to make you a victim of crime and doesn"t offer any kind of protection that a minority of young people appear to think it does.

'Knifes destroy lives and it"s time that we as a society got them off the streets. This means all of us doing what we can to make sure that carrying a knife or any kind of weapon is entirely unacceptable.'

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This article appeared in Barrhead News 16 Jul 08

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