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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Summit to tackle 'knife culture' | Summit to tackle 'knife culture' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A major summit to help tackle Scotland's knife crime problem is being staged at the Scottish Parliament. | A major summit to help tackle Scotland's knife crime problem is being staged at the Scottish Parliament. |
| It will hear from all people involved with the problem, including police, medics and victims themselves. | |
| The event was inspired by campaigner John Muir, whose son was stabbed to death in 2007. | The event was inspired by campaigner John Muir, whose son was stabbed to death in 2007. |
| It is hoped the summit, being attended by Scottish Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing, will generate fresh thinking on dealing with the problem. | It is hoped the summit, being attended by Scottish Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing, will generate fresh thinking on dealing with the problem. |
| Mr Muir, whose son Damian was murdered in Greenock, brought a petition to Holyrood which has led to calls for automatic jail sentences for anyone caught carrying a knife. | Mr Muir, whose son Damian was murdered in Greenock, brought a petition to Holyrood which has led to calls for automatic jail sentences for anyone caught carrying a knife. |
| 'Unanswered questions' | 'Unanswered questions' |
| Labour MSP Frank McAvetty, convener of the parliament's public petitions committee, recognised the work being done by the Scottish Government on knife crime, but said many questions had been left unanswered, such as the attitude of police towards tackling the problem in local communities and its impact on hospital staff. | Labour MSP Frank McAvetty, convener of the parliament's public petitions committee, recognised the work being done by the Scottish Government on knife crime, but said many questions had been left unanswered, such as the attitude of police towards tackling the problem in local communities and its impact on hospital staff. |
| The debate, to be held in Holyrood's main chamber, will also hear from members of the legal profession and community groups. | The debate, to be held in Holyrood's main chamber, will also hear from members of the legal profession and community groups. |
| Mr Muir described the event as one of the most comprehensive steps taken to overcome Scotland's "knife culture". | Mr Muir described the event as one of the most comprehensive steps taken to overcome Scotland's "knife culture". |
| Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond this week described knife crime as a serious problem in Scotland. | Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond this week described knife crime as a serious problem in Scotland. |
| He also said Scotland currently had a historically high number of police officers and the lowest levels of recorded crime in 25 years. | He also said Scotland currently had a historically high number of police officers and the lowest levels of recorded crime in 25 years. |
| In the wake of the summit, the petitions committee will make recommendations to ministers, who are bringing forward legislation to reform the criminal justice system. | In the wake of the summit, the petitions committee will make recommendations to ministers, who are bringing forward legislation to reform the criminal justice system. |