Officers hail success of crackdown on weapons

May 29 2008 By Shirley Bartynek

A POLICE crackdown on violent crime snared boys as young as 12 who were carrying offensive weapons.

The boys, from Larkhall and Kirkmuirhill, were reported to the procurator fiscal.

Police revealed the shocking information at the end of the four-week operation, which began on April 21.

During that time they removed from streets of South Lanarkshire 30 offensive weapons.

A total of 46 people were arrested for violent crime, of whom 32 were found to be in possession of offensive weapons.

Police say the campaign against violence is helping to make the streets of South Lanarkshire safer, after officers stopped and searched over 1500 people. Red bins placed in police offices across South Lanarkshire encouraged members of the public to hand in weapons, with more than 400 handed in during the weapons phase.

High-visibility patrols were made of the area and anyone suspected of carrying a weapon was subjected to sustained and targeted stop-and-search activity, with officers using metal detectors to uncover concealed items.

Kitchen knives, baseball bats, pieces of wood and metal poles were the most common weapons seized.

However, a pickaxe handle, golf club, a knuckleduster, a samurai sword, garden spike and sharpening tool were also taken off the streets by officers.

The weapons phase has also seen community safety officers and school campus officers continuing important prevention work in schools.

Speaking about the success of the second phase, Divisional Commander for South Lanarkshire, Chief Superintendent Tim Love, said: “I am extremely encouraged by the response that we’ve had from the public in terms of the number of weapons that were handed in during this phase of the campaign.

“We will continue to deter violence and reduce opportunities for violence to prevail through high-visibility and pro-active intelligence led patrols in areas of concern.

“Throughout the next phase, however, we will continue to drive home the message that carrying weapons isn’t clever.

“Anyone intending to carry a weapon should think again and consider the serious consequences.

“We still encourage any person who knows of anyone carrying a knife or weapon to report this to the police or anonymously through Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.”