The village of Lochwinnoch and the whole of Renfrewshire
was shocked and saddened by the murder of Guardsman
Paul McGee last October. I want to use my column this
month to discuss the fi ght against knife crime in accordance
with the wishes of Guardsman McGee’s family.
This was a barbaric and sickening crime. Two men are
awaiting trial. I hope and anticipate that justice will be
done. Sadly, however, the incident that shook our whole
community is not an isolated one. Over 55 deaths a year in
Scotland are as a result of knife crime. There is a culture
of knife carrying which needs to be tackled in this country.
Many knife attacks go unreported and the vast majority of
victims are not themselves possessing an offensive weapon.
Currently two thirds of people caught carrying knives are sentenced to
community service. Educating young people against carrying knives is
important but stronger deterrents are also needed. The maximum sentence
for carrying a knife is four years but there is currently no mandatory
minimum sentence. That’s why, as many local residents will be aware,
Guardsman McGee’s sister Kelly and mum Anne are supporting a campaign
to remove the knives from Scotland’s streets. Like them, I simply believe
that knife crime has blighted too many lives for too long.
Kelly and Anne launched a petition on 3rd January in support of the Carry a
Knife, Go to Jail campaign which is calling for mandatory minimum sentences
for those caught carrying a knife. So far the campaign has received a massive
amount of support in our local community. At the time of writing over 6,000
signatures have been collected and a further 2,000 people have signed the
petition online.
This campaign is both impressive and worthwhile. It is all the more
commendable because this is an extremely diffi cult time for Paul’s family
and friends. They are committed to doing all that they can to raise awareness
of the issues and to prevent further unnecessary suffering for victims and
their families. An amendment to the Criminal Justice and Licensing Bill has
been lodged in the Scottish Parliament which seeks to introduce mandatory
minimum sentences.
If you support the McGee family’s call for tougher sentencing then your
help to put pressure on MSP’s to take action is crucial. If you have not
already done so please sign the petition online at http://www.ipetitions.
com/petition/carryaknife-gotojail.
Surgery dates: Sat 6th March & Sat 3rd April at 9am in the McKillop Hall,
Lochwinnoch and 10am in the Steeple Hall, Kilbarchan. At any other time
Tel:0141-840-3653 or Email: cllr.neil.bibby@renfrewshire.gov.uk
Trish Godman (MSP) - Knife Crime
Clearly a very emotive subject, this month Trish Godman provided a
similar report to Cllr Bibby on knife crime. Unfortunately we did not have
space for both here; Trish’s full report is on page 42.
Trish is pictured
with, from left to
right, Iain Gray
MSP Labour Leader,
Kelly McGee (the
sister of Guardsman
McGee) and
Richard Baker MSP
Shadow Justice
Spokesperson.
MARCH 2010 | send your ARTICLES & PHOTOS to info@advertizer.co.uk www.advertizer.co.uk| 01505 874385 | www.theadvertizer.co.uk 7
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