Knife crime in Scotland becoming ‘public health problem’
2 May 2006
The number of murders involving knives in Scotland is thought to be a public health hazard. This month, research by the Medical Research Council, reveals that knife-violence has more than doubled (increased by 164%) over the past 20 years.
The study, published in the Journal of Public Health, gathered information from 2,151 murders which took place in Scotland between 1981 and 2003 and looked for instances involving the use of a knife or similar object.
Researchers at the MRC’s Social and Public Health Sciences Unit in Glasgow report the following findings:
In a 20 year period, the overall murder rate increased by 83% and murder with knives increased by 164%
During this time, 47% of all murders involved knives
More than half of male murders involved knives
Homicide is more common at weekends and a higher proportion of male murders at the weekend involved knives
These results are based on analysis of death records listing the incidence of murder due to knife injury in Scotland with a focus on Glasgow, where the murder rate is nearly three times that of Scotland as a whole.
However, the report dismisses the notion that Glasgow’s high murder rate is simply due to the fact that it is a large city. In contrast Scotland’s other main cities – Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen – all have lower than average murder rates.
The study concludes that the high murder rate in Glasgow is likely to be linked to deprivation in the city.
The researchers also suggest that the Scottish Parliament’s plan, to introduce legislation to restrict knife sales to under 18’s, is unlikely to stem the high knife-related murder rate as kitchen knives are still widely available and may continue to be used as weapons.
Research leader Dr Alastair Leyland explained: “Knife crime in Scotland is becoming a public health problem. It seems clear from our research that the rise in murders in Scotland is due specifically to an increase in the use of knives and other sharp implements. This problem particularly affects young men between 15 and 34, and murders, along with suicide, now represent a serious threat to public health for this social group. Moreover, murder is now a significant contribution to social inequalities in mortality in this age group.”
The MRC’s Chief Executive, Colin Blakemore added: “These are shocking findings. They demonstrate a link between poverty and violence using knives. But this is clearly valuable knowledge not just for the executive in Scotland but for policy-makers in Wales, Northern Ireland and England. We hope that in years to come this work by the Medical Research Council will lead to fewer crimes involving knives.”
This research was funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Executive Health Department and carried out at the MRC’s Social and Public Health Sciences Unit in Glasgow.
For further information contact MRC Press Office, Head Office, 020 7637 6011
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