The number of knife crimes is increasing and is resulting in crimes against the person, including assaults, rising in Kerry.
That’s according to forensic criminologist and patron of Advocates for the Victims of Homicide (AdVIC), John Deane-O'Keeffe.
AdVIC is a charity for families bereaved by homicide.
Mr Deane-O’Keeffe was speaking after figures revealed there were 239 knives seized in Kerry over the past six years.
During the first six months of this year, 1,054 knives were seized nationally, 22 of these were in Kerry.
John Deane-O'Keeffe says carrying a knife has now become a normal part of society within certain disadvantaged communities:
The Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has increased jail sentences for knife crimes.
Sentences for having a knife in a public place with intent to injure, trespassing with a knife or weapon, and making a knife with intent to hurt will increase from 5 to 7 years.
The manufacture, importation sale hire or loan of an offensive weapon increases from 7 to 10 years.
John Deane-O'Keeffe says this isn’t a deterrent and says there should be minimum sentences in to be place to help stop knife crime:
