The Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill, which was laid down before Parliament on Thursday 26 November, failed to address the scourge of knife crime that has been brutalising Scottish society.

Cathie Craigie, who carried out extensive public consultation on knife crime during the summer, is an advocate of the Scottish Labour Party's policy: Carry a Knife...Go to Jail.

Cathie said:

"This was the SNP's chance to show that they are serious about tackling knife crime, but once again they have failed the people of Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Scotland as a whole.

"There is a knife cultural currently gripping Scotland, with dangerous thugs thinking it is cool and fashionable to carry a blade, and being perfectly willing to use it on others.

"Many in our constituency of Cumbernauld and Kilsyth have experienced firsthand the devastating scourge of knife crime; some have lost family members, others have suffered permanent scarring, both physical and psychological. It must be tackled head on.

"This proposed legislation is apparently committed to the reduction of crime by deterrence. Kenny MacAskill must understand that there is no bigger deterrence to knife carriers than the notion of going to prison if they are caught.

"Once again the Justice Secretary has failed to read the mood of the people of Scotland. He must bring forward mandatory prison sentences before more lives are devastated by knife crime."