CALLS have been made for tougher sentencing after a wave of crime involving knives.
A Freedom of Information request to North Wales Police found since January 1 last year there had been 96 crimes involving knives or bladed instruments across the Wrexham town, Wrexham rural and Flintshire north and south policing districts.
In the past year the Leader has reported on a number of knife-related crimes, particularly in the Deeside area.
These have included a stabbing at a house in Shotton last October, a multiple stabbing in Highmere Drive, Connah’s Quay, last October and a stabbing in the street in Mold last April.
According to the figures for Flintshire and Wrexham, a total of 26 crimes were recorded as involving knives, 28 involved kitchen knives, two involved an axe, two involved a machete and one involved a sword.
Other crimes involved penknives, craft knives and sharpened screwdrivers.
In comparison a total of 66 knife incidents were recorded in Denbighshire coastal, Conwy, Denbighshire rural and Conwy coastal and 63 in Anglesey and Gwynedd north and south.
Flintshire councillor Peter Pemberton, who also sits on the North Wales Police Authority, has now called for tougher sentences.
He said: “I know the police are very tough on knife crime, but what we are up against is the penalties that are given out – they are not a deterrent.
“If you go out with a knife then there is a high chance you could kill someone.
“I think most people would welcome stiffer penalties for people who are found guilty of using a knife or of carrying one.
“People who need knives for business use should be registered.
“People who carry knives are a threat to people’s freedom. People should be able to walk in safety on the streets.”
Cllr Pemberton blamed the recent incidents on Deeside on the “culture” in the area.
He said: “There is a culture in Deeside of ‘settling scores’ and it’s been that way for a long time, but until there are very stringent sentences it will carry on.”
Wrexham councillor Gerry Craddock, who is a member of the North Wales Police Authority, said knife crime was “worrying”, but Wrexham and Flintshire had a higher population so were bound to have more incidents.
He said: “I’m sure the police are doing everything in their power to control these type of incidents, but to hear there’s knife crime full stop is worrying.
“But I would say pro-rata to the population, knife crime in Flintshire and Wrexham is no different from the rest of North Wales.”
Other figures obtained from North Wales Police show that in 2010 there were three murders involving knives or bladed instruments, compared to only two in 2009.
There were 40 woundings, compared to 30 the previous year and there were 18 threats to kill involving knives compared to 10 the year before.
The statistics also revealed there were 14 crimes involving guns in Wrexham and Flintshire since January 1 last year.
Of the incidents, 12 involved an air weapon while two involved a firearm.
There were fewer gun-related incidents in Wrexham and Flintshire than in the rest of North Wales, where 15 incidents were recorded in Anglesey and Gwynedd and 19 in Denbighshire and Conwy.
Wrexham Chief Inspector Mark Pierce said: “North Wales Police takes a proactive and robust approach to violent crime to deter and target people in possession of weapons, including knives and other bladed articles.
“It is important to note that these incidents, across two heavily populated counties, although serious in nature, are still relatively low in number.
“Wrexham and Flintshire remain safe places to live and work and visit.”