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...