Moves to oust knivesBy Melissa Meehan

Casey Police are launching a campaign to stop young people from carrying knives and other weapons in an attempt to decrease the number of stabbing incidents and violent crime in the region.
Leading Senior Constable Steve Foster said along with the state-wide weapons amnesty, local measures were also being put in place.
“The amnesty begins on 1 October and runs until the 31st,” he said.
“This means residents can bring any weapons to police without prosecution.”
Region 5 Youth Resource officer Leading Senior Constable Lola Porter said police were also working with the community to reduce knife crime.
“My advice is for all parents to talk to their children about the dangers and potential harm carrying weapons can cause,” she said. “It’s important for every young person to know if they carry a knife, they are more likely to commit an offence or have the knife used against them.”
Leading Sen Const Porter warned young people to walk away from peer pressure and to play a positive role in society instead. Crime Prevention officer Eddy MacDonald said the ‘knife can take a life’ slogan was aimed at young people and their families.
“We really want to try and get parents talking to their kids about knives.”
“Police can’t be seen as the sole answer to the problem, it’s on the whole community to seek the reduction in attacks that are happening.”
Crime Prevention officer MacDonald said as part of the campaign police were working with Chisholm Institute of TAFE students to make a DVD targeting youth issues and putting together a flyer to highlight the risks.