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05/02/2009
Gardaí Launch Knife Campaign
A knife crime awareness campaign has been launched by Gardaí in an effort to curtail the lethal use of blades on Ireland's streets.
The Garda Commissioner, Fachtna Murphy, along with the Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern officially launched the campaign entitled ‘How Big Do You Feel?'
The campaign is to run in tandem with the imposition of new laws, which will give Gardaí greater search powers when looking for knives.
Prison sentences for carrying knives will also be increased from the current maximum of 12 months to five years, and Samurai Swords are to be completely banned.
Launching the campaign, the Garda Commissioner said: "This is one element of An Garda Síochána’s ongoing awareness raising activity directed at preventing crime. It will be rolled out throughout the country and includes a series of workshops with school children, meetings led by community gardaí, and a number of online elements.
"The message is simple: Carrying a knife is against the law and if you are caught you will be charged and brought to court. Carrying a knife greatly increases your chances of being seriously injured or killed in a fight."
The new measures are to be introduced in this Dáil Session in the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, currently being drawn up to legislate for handgun ownership in Ireland.
Speaking at the launch, the Mr Ahern said: "The Garda Commissioner has made a number of recommendations to me: that the penalties for possessing a knife in a public place be increased; that an extended power of search without warrant be created in circumstances where a member of An Garda Síochána has reasonable grounds to suspect a person is carrying any article for an unlawful purpose; and for consideration of a prohibition in relation to swords.
"I am now bringing forward amendments to the legislation in the forthcoming Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. Drafting of the Bill is almost completed and the Government have agreed to treat it as a priority measure for this Dáil session."
(DW/BMcC)
The Garda Commissioner, Fachtna Murphy, along with the Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern officially launched the campaign entitled ‘How Big Do You Feel?'
The campaign is to run in tandem with the imposition of new laws, which will give Gardaí greater search powers when looking for knives.
Prison sentences for carrying knives will also be increased from the current maximum of 12 months to five years, and Samurai Swords are to be completely banned.
Launching the campaign, the Garda Commissioner said: "This is one element of An Garda Síochána’s ongoing awareness raising activity directed at preventing crime. It will be rolled out throughout the country and includes a series of workshops with school children, meetings led by community gardaí, and a number of online elements.
"The message is simple: Carrying a knife is against the law and if you are caught you will be charged and brought to court. Carrying a knife greatly increases your chances of being seriously injured or killed in a fight."
The new measures are to be introduced in this Dáil Session in the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, currently being drawn up to legislate for handgun ownership in Ireland.
Speaking at the launch, the Mr Ahern said: "The Garda Commissioner has made a number of recommendations to me: that the penalties for possessing a knife in a public place be increased; that an extended power of search without warrant be created in circumstances where a member of An Garda Síochána has reasonable grounds to suspect a person is carrying any article for an unlawful purpose; and for consideration of a prohibition in relation to swords.
"I am now bringing forward amendments to the legislation in the forthcoming Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. Drafting of the Bill is almost completed and the Government have agreed to treat it as a priority measure for this Dáil session."
(DW/BMcC)
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Anti-Knife Campaign Rolled Out By Gardaí
An anti-knife campaign called 'How Big Do You Feel?' is being launched by gardaí to combat the growing number of stabbings. Announced on Thursday by Gardaí Commissioner Fachtna Murphy, the campaign is directed at informing and educating young people of the dangers of carrying knives and at reducing the number of instances of knife crime in Ireland.
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20-Year-Old Killed In Dublin Knife Attack
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Garda Killer Who Stabbed Wife With A Steak Knife To Be Sentenced
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Garda Hunt For Three Men After Knife Point Robbery
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Woman Seriously Injured In Knife Attack In Cork City
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to a knife attack on a woman in Cork city yesterday, 23 March. It is understood that the woman, aged in her 20s, was slashed across the face a number of times when she was attacked as she parked her car on Friar's Street shortly after midday.
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