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02/06/2008
Knife Crackdown Sees Ban On Swords
Government plans to curtail the level of knife crime have been revealed, and include a ban on the sale of swords.
Gardaí have invited tenders from the private sector to develop a "focused and targeted" campaign to discourage knife carrying as the high level of reported stabbing incidents persists.
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said legislation, to be published in the coming months, will prohibit swords, increase Garda powers to search people suspected of carrying knives and allow more knife offences to be prosecuted in the higher courts, which attract higher penalties.
The minister told the Dáil last week the latest review would recommend further controls despite existing strict prohibitions and severe penalties on knives under current law.
"The report makes a number of small suggestions in respect of changes in this area, including in respect of powers of search, the prohibition of swords and providing that summary offences be tried on indictment," he said.
"I will use the Criminal Justice Bill, which it is hoped will be available in the next couple of months, as the legislative vehicle to make the changes recommended by the Garda commissioner."
The review was set up last January by former justice minister Brian Lenihan following a sharp rise in fatal stabbings.
Mr Ahern told the Dáil that murders involving knives or sharp instruments doubled from 18 in 2006 to 36 last year.
(DW)
Gardaí have invited tenders from the private sector to develop a "focused and targeted" campaign to discourage knife carrying as the high level of reported stabbing incidents persists.
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said legislation, to be published in the coming months, will prohibit swords, increase Garda powers to search people suspected of carrying knives and allow more knife offences to be prosecuted in the higher courts, which attract higher penalties.
The minister told the Dáil last week the latest review would recommend further controls despite existing strict prohibitions and severe penalties on knives under current law.
"The report makes a number of small suggestions in respect of changes in this area, including in respect of powers of search, the prohibition of swords and providing that summary offences be tried on indictment," he said.
"I will use the Criminal Justice Bill, which it is hoped will be available in the next couple of months, as the legislative vehicle to make the changes recommended by the Garda commissioner."
The review was set up last January by former justice minister Brian Lenihan following a sharp rise in fatal stabbings.
Mr Ahern told the Dáil that murders involving knives or sharp instruments doubled from 18 in 2006 to 36 last year.
(DW)
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