The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland's cross-community party

 David Ford

McCarthy shocked at rise in knife crime in Northern Ireland

3.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 21st Jul 2008

Portrait-yellow: MCCARTHY Kieran (photography: Allan Leonard)

Alliance Chief Whip Kieran McCarthy MLA

Alliance Chief Whip Kieran McCarthy MLA has expressed shock that knife crime has increased by 10% between last year and the previous year. His comments come as the PSNI launched a campaign to crack down on the problem in Northern Ireland.

Kieran McCarthy MLA stated: "I am deeply disturbed that knife crime has increased by 10% in between last year and the previous year.

"Knife crime is one of the biggest problems facing wider society at present.

"Officers will be on the streets with a metal detector wand and hopefully this will help catch knife-wielding thugs and deter others from such behaviour. I hope this PSNI campaign is successful and that it stops knife crime becoming an epidemic like it has done in some other parts of the UK. The culture of some people carrying knives needs to be tackled head on.

"Stronger sentences for those who carry knives and more vigilance from parents is needed to tackle this problem."

ENDS

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