Police in Scotland have launched the educational phase of a year-long anti-violence campaign.

Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson MSP officially launched the education element of the Safer Scotland campaign at Kilwinning Academy in North Ayrshire.

Safer Scotland’s educational campaign aims to make young people aware of the dangers of knife carrying.

To mark the start of the new school term, the Safer Scotland unit is distributing education packs to police officers, which includes a ‘Knife City’ DVD and a lesson plan. The lesson plan has been developed by Audrey Grieve, a secondary school teacher on secondment to Lothian and Borders Police.

Primary seven pupils across Scotland will also be invited to take part in a design a mouse mat competition around the theme of violence prevention. Details will be sent out to schools shortly.
Part of the education phase is a hard-hitting poster campaign aimed at trying to change attitudes towards carrying weapons. The poster is aimed at young men in particular who carry, or who may carry knives and other weapons in the future.

Inspector Tom Halbert from the Violence Reduction Unit said the posters would raise awareness of the dangers of knives, and hopefully make a start in trying to change attitudes towards the culture of violence, which blights many of our communities.
Inspector Halbert, whose remit covers youth issues and education, explained:

“It’s important that we reach out to young people with our anti-violence message in an eye-catching way. We want the posters to grab their attention and make them think twice about carrying a knife or other potentially lethal weapons.”

The poster states ‘Carrying a knife doesn’t make you a man’ and although it features a model, the scar has been superimposed from a real victim of a knife attack.

Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said:

“Some young people have said to me that they carry a knife for their own protection. However, as this poster shows, if you carry a knife you are putting yourself and others at risk of horrific and life-threatening injuries.

“We are already toughening the law to crack down on this problem, but we also need to change the perception that carrying a blade is acceptable in a modern, forward thinking Scotland and stop more young people having their lives cut short or being permanently scarred.

“The Executive and police are determined to play their part. But we also need the support of families whose young men may be involved in knife carrying, to challenge this behaviour so we can create communities where respect is earned by the way someone lives their life – and not by what they carry in their pocket.”

Campbell Armstrong, head teacher of Kilwinning Academy, said:

“We are delighted to host the educational launch of the nationwide Safer Scotland campaign. Fortunately, we do not have an issue with knives in our school and we want to keep it that way. That’s why it’s vitally important we get the message across to young people that carrying knives is unacceptable in our communities.

“We are fortunate to have a campus officer based in the school and there is real trust and a great rapport between Constable Hill and the pupils. This has a knock on effect in the local community and as a result, we have an excellent relationship with our local community.”

Inspector Halbert explained that this was only the start of the process to try and change attitudes, he explained:

“We need to get away from this macho culture, where in some areas, it’s almost a rite of passage for young men to carry and use knives.

“We are calling on anyone who carries a knife – often in the mistaken belief that it will give them some form of protection - to think about the consequences. Coupled with drink or drugs on a Saturday night, these weapons all too often lead to bloodshed.

“We want young people to think about the dangers of carrying and using a knife. Clearly only a very small percentage of young people carry a weapon, but we want those who do, to look at these posters twice and then think twice, before they leave home with a blade.”

It is also hoped the posters will appeal to parents and guardians.

“Education clearly isn’t just about schools – we want everyone to play their part. We want mums and dads to ask their son when they leave home on a Friday and Saturday night – are you carrying a blade or do you know someone who does?

“Young people who hang around in groups can be under tremendous pressure to conform. While a young person may not intend to carry a knife, peer pressure, as we know is very powerful and very often they are slowly introduced to this activity. Before long this behaviour becomes commonplace, and although there might not have been any intent to injure, tragic incidents do occur,” added Inspector Halbert.