Bin your knife, it could save a life - that is the stark message today from Tayside Police as they joined police forces across Scotland in launching a knife amnesty.

Until 30 June 2006 people are being given the chance to bin their knives and avoid prosecution.

The aim of the amnesty is to get as many knives and weapons off the streets as possible and restrict access to knives. There were 137 homicides in Scotland in 2004/2005 and more than half of these crimes involved knives.

Supported by the Scottish Executive and ACPOS, the amnesty is one element of a year-long anti-violence campaign under the banner of Safer Scotland.

Hundreds of special red wheelie bins designed for dumping knives have been distributed across Scotland. The bins will be securely locked and chained in the front foyer of all police stations in Tayside.

Detective Superintendent Jim Cameron, the lead officer for the campaign in Tayside, said,

‘‘ The message of this campaign is simple - if you think you’re protecting yourself by carrying a knife, you’re not. Too many people think that carrying a knife will make them safer but the reality is quite the opposite as they run the real risk of having the knife turned back on them.

‘‘ Every weapon handed in is a weapon that can’t be used in crime. I want to see people recognising the dangers of carrying a knife and using this opportunity to dispose of it before we take action against them.

‘‘ Ensuring that our communities are safe is at the heart of policing in Tayside and I hope that this amnesty will give members of the public reassurance that positive, proactive action is being taken by Tayside Police to tackle knife crime. Those who labour under the misconception that the carrying of any offensive weapon may add to their street cred, now have the perfect opportunity to hand in their weapons.

‘‘ Ordinary law-abiding members of the public don’t want to see their communities blighted by violence. People have been seriously injured or killed by knives in circumstances where those convicted state that they had no intention of hurting anyone. Our message is simple - don’t carry knives for protection, it is unlawful and it is dangerous.

‘‘ We will be working with our communities throughout the amnesty to take as many knives off the street as possible. We will also be targeting operations to identify those unlawfully carrying knives with a view to prosecuting them. Help us to make Tayside a safer place by reporting anyone who you know is carrying an offensive weapon. Together we can build a safer Tayside and a safer Scotland - violence is preventable, not inevitable.’’