This Is Guernsey

By Gemma Hockey

Some of the knives handed in during 2007’s amnesty.

THERE will be no repeat of the knife amnesty this year. Chief Inspector Peter Dowding, who led the investigation into the murder of James Dean in September 2006, said the initiative was unlikely to take place in the summer.

The knife amnesty was launched in the second week of August and by the end of October 582 offensive weapons had been handed in anonymously.  These were crushed and shredded by Guernsey Recycling under instruction from the police.

CI Dowding said last year’s initiative, which saw the placing of amnesty bins at the police station, Checkers at Cobo and the Co-ops in St Martin’s and the Bridge, was seen as a positive move in highlighting the danger of carrying knives.

Many of the blades handed in had been adapted to cause serious or fatal injuries, such as one knife that featured a shooting blade and a built-in lighter.

‘At this stage we do not feel it is appropriate to have another amnesty. However, we are constantly reviewing levels of criminality on the island,’ he said.

‘If we do feel it is appropriate to launch another amnesty, we will consider it in the future.’

Among the haul of nearly 600 offensive weapons were daggers, flick knives and spring-loaded blades.

The father of knife-murder victim James launched the campaign on 15 August at St Martin’s Co-op.

Speaking after the result of the appeal case last Tuesday, he pleaded with youngsters not to carry knives.

He said: ‘Anybody who carries a knife is in a position to ruin the lives of many people, send ripples through the community and devastate the lives not only of their family and friends but also the people of Guernsey who believe they are liveing in a society free of serious violence.’