Sandra White, SNP MSP for Glasgow, has welcomed today the figures which demonstrate a reduction in knife carrying by 35% as a result of the 'No Knives, Better Lives' scheme. The programme launched in July 2009 in Inverclyde combined diversionary activity for young people with social advertising to educate them about the danger of carrying a knife. The SNP government supported this initiative with £500,000 along with the provision of 1,100 additional police staff. As a result of the 'No Knives, Better Lives' scheme, police searches have been doubled and knife carrying has decreased by 35% in the region of Inverclyde.

Following this success, the scheme was rolled out in Glasgow in July this year with a mobile street football deployment in Glasgow's five localities - north, east, south east, south west and west, a multimedia bus and a mobile basketball alongside an information campaign about the danger of carrying a knife.

Supporting the initiative's launch in Glasgow, Sandra White MSP said: "The reduction of knife carrying by 35% demonstrates the success of the 'No Knives, Better Live' scheme in Inverclyde and I hope that the initiative will be equally successful in Glasgow."

"Although the possession of offensive weapons has declined in the last five years it is important to support the 'No Knives, Better Life' scheme to further decrease knife crime in Glasgow making it a better place to live."

"It is also essential to engage young people in cultural and social activities alongside informing them about the dangers of carrying a knife for themselves as well as for their family or friends."