Self-defence experts support crackdown on knife culture.
[UKPRwire, Wed May 24 2006] Self-defence experts are backing plans for tougher penalties on knife carriers and a government sponsored nation-wide blade amnesty to save lives
Krav Maga Scotland, which regularly trains public sector workers, law enforcement officials and members of the general public across the country, fears that unless the spiralling blade culture is stopped more lives will be put at risk.
From Wednesday, May 24, until Friday, June 30, people will be able to hand over blades and other offensive weapons in return for immunity from prosecution in an attempt to reduce the sickening rise in violent and often fatal, incidents.
Scotland in particular has seen the number of deaths from stabbings more than double in the last two decades.
More than half of all male murders in Scotland involve injuries from stabbings and it is estimated that one in four criminals now carry weapons.
Simon Leila, an expert in crime prevention who has been teaching self-defence techniques for more than 20 years in various cities across the UK, admits he has been shocked by the level of knife crime in Scotland, and Glasgow in particular.
”In every class we teach in and around Glasgow there are at least a couple of people who have been victims of knife of crime,” said Mr Leila whose organisation, Krav Maga Scotland, teaches a form of self-defence pioneered by the Israeli military and used by law enforcement bodies around the world.
”I used to go years without ever meeting anybody who had been stabbed or even threatened with a knife but that’s changing now.
”The vast majority of people we teach are ordinary members of the public who are anxious about violent crime.
”We spend almost 40 per cent of time in our Glasgow classes practising knife-defences because of the problem, that’s double the time devoted to the problem in other areas of the country.”
For commercial photographer Colin McCreery and Krav Maga student it has been a lesson learned the hard way.
A few years ago he and friend chased off a teenager mugger outside a club in Glasgow only to meet up with their attacker and some of his friends an hour later.
”They didn’t want my money the second time, they just wanted to kill me,” said the Colin, 32.
”My friend managed to escape but I was surrounded by five of them and at least two had knives. There was no threat or demands they just started trying to stab me.
”I was stabbed in the back but luckily the blade didn’t hit any vital organs and I survived, but I am convinced it was nothing less than attempted murder.
”Anything which cuts down on the number of knives on the street has got to be a good thing,” said Colin.
ends
For further information please contact Simon Leila, Director of Krav Maga Scotland on 07050 199 710 or see our website www.kravmagascotland.co.uk
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