Kids as young as nine carrying knives in South Ayrshire

Aug 29 2008 by Lisa Boyle

SHOCKING figures show that 244 under 18s have been charged with possession of an offensive weapon in the last five years – including four nine-year-olds.

Youngsters are arming themselves with everything from sticks and broken bottles to baseball bats and carving knives.

The data, revealed to the Ayrshire Post through the freedom of information act, confirms that South Ayrshire is not exempt from the growing knife culture plaguing Scotland.

Police have issued a stern warning to weapon wielding youngsters following the revelation.

Head of policing in South Ayrshire, Superintendent John Hazlett, said that they are doing all they can to highlight the dangers of carrying offensive weapons.

He said: “This type of behaviour involving youths carrying offensive weapons will not be tolerated.

“Officers have been very active over the past year in targeting youth groups in known problem areas. This activity has seen us engaging with youths while using stop and search powers in an effort to find and confiscate offensive weapons.

“Campus-based police officers have also been delivering talks to educate school pupils on the dangers of carrying weapons.”

Supt Hazlett said that police and other bodies work relentlessly to make children and teenagers turn their back on crime.

He added: “More officers than ever before have been out in force throughout the past year tackling the criminal behaviour that impacts on the community.

“Extra officers are deployed to specific areas of South Ayrshire deemed, through intelligence and analysis, to have problems with gangs, weapons, antisocial behaviour and violent offenders.”

But he pointed out that everyone living in the community has a role to play in keeping the streets safe.

He concluded: “We must continue to drive home the message that carrying offensive weapons is not clever.

“I would urge young people, their parents and local residents to work with the police and our partners to tackle violence by reporting knife or weapon carriers before it is too late.”