The following table sets outthe number of custodial convictions for carrying a knife or offensive weapon ina public place, broken down as requested. New guidelines on the prosecution of knifecrime will come into effect on 1 July 2006, following the end of the knife amnesty which commencedon 24 May, which will mean that those carryingor using a knife will be held in custody and may be prosecuted before a sheriffand jury, enabling sheriffs to impose a more severe punishment.Custodial Convictions in ScottishCourts for Handling an Offensive Weapon1, 2000-01 to 2004-05 Scotland Possession of an Offensive Weapon2 Having in a Public Place an Article with a Blade or a poInt Total 2000-01 281 351 632 2001-02 264 363 627 2002-03 276 451 727 2003-04 264 400 664 2004-05 303 458 761 Aberdeen 2000-01 7 4 11 2001-02 6 7 13 2002-03 4 5 9 2003-04 7 3 10 2004-05 8 5 13 Dundee 2000-01 6 10 16 2001-02 8 15 23 2002-03 8 9 17 2003-04 6 11 17 2004-05 12 10 22 Edinburgh 2000-01 22 28 50 2001-02 15 28 43 2002-03 15 42 57 2003-04 15 39 54 2004-05 17 41 58 Glasgow 2000-01 135 142 277 2001-02 119 133 252 2002-03 137 197 334 2003-04 121 134 255 2004-05 132 165 297 Stirling 2000-01 1 1 2 2001-02 2 2 4 2002-03 2 3 5 2003-04 5 3 8 2004-05 - 3 3 Notes:1.