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Alcohol 'no excuse' for violence Alcohol 'no excuse' for violence
(about 1 hour later)
Legislation will stop drunkenness being used as an excuse for criminal behaviour, Justice Secretary Kenny McAskill is expected to announce.Legislation will stop drunkenness being used as an excuse for criminal behaviour, Justice Secretary Kenny McAskill is expected to announce.
Mr McAskill is planning to tell a conference of world experts at Tulliallan Police College he will crack down on drink-fuelled violence.Mr McAskill is planning to tell a conference of world experts at Tulliallan Police College he will crack down on drink-fuelled violence.
Seven out of 10 people accused of murder in Scotland were under the influence of drink or drugs.Seven out of 10 people accused of murder in Scotland were under the influence of drink or drugs.
The justice secretary will be speaking at a Violence Reduction Unit event.The justice secretary will be speaking at a Violence Reduction Unit event.
The third "Milestones of a Global Campaign For Violence Prevention" conference at the Fife college has been organised on behalf of the World Health Organization (WHO). Mr McAskill said: "Here in Scotland we have a clear lethal cocktail of alcohol and knives that results in carnage.
This conference demonstrates the understanding that we now have between the police and health professionals Det Ch Supt John CarnochanViolence Reduction Unit "That's why we believe we have to trigger a message culturally, as well as through the legal system, that alcohol cannot and will not be tolerated as an excuse for criminal behaviour."
He said 70% of those who commit murder are under the influence of drink or drugs.
What we are triggering is that it can no longer be a mitigatory factor Kenny McAskillJustice secretary
Figures show that almost half of Scotland's 7,000 prisoners claim to have been drunk at the time of their offence.Figures show that almost half of Scotland's 7,000 prisoners claim to have been drunk at the time of their offence.
The justice secretary said: "If you behave in an ignorant loutish manner, shout, bawl, breach the peace, assault someone, commit domestic violence, don't use alcohol as an excuse. This is unacceptable."
Det Ch Supt John Carnochan of the police Violence Reduction Unit has said that alcohol use should be considered an "aggravating" factor when sentencing someone for a crime.
Mr McAskill said: "What we are triggering is that it can no longer be a mitigatory factor.
"I will leave it to the Crown and the court to decide whether there are instances, and I think there are, where alcohol is an aggravation."
The third "Milestones of a Global Campaign For Violence Prevention" conference at the Fife college has been organised on behalf of the World Health Organization (WHO).
At the conference, worldwide experts will discuss developments in research, policy and practice for violence prevention.At the conference, worldwide experts will discuss developments in research, policy and practice for violence prevention.
The two-day meeting, to be held at Tulliallan Castle from 17 to 19 July, is expected to attract more than 200 researchers, practitioners and advocates in the field.The two-day meeting, to be held at Tulliallan Castle from 17 to 19 July, is expected to attract more than 200 researchers, practitioners and advocates in the field.
According to the WHO, the theme of the meeting "Scaling Up" addresses the fact that increasing numbers of countries are taking action on the basis that violence can be prevented.
Child aggression
Among the key speakers will be Professor Irvin Waller, founding CEO of the International Centre for Prevention of Crime and pioneer of the UN Declaration on Justice for Victims.
Another world expert will discuss her work in violence-reduction in school classrooms during a session with Paddy Tomkins, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland.
Mary Gordon is founder of the Canada-based Roots of Empathy programme that has shown dramatic effects in reducing levels of aggression and violence among schoolchildren.
Rates of violence-related deaths are compared with the WHO report
The Mexican health minister Dr José Ángel Córdova, and Dr Kofi Ahmed, chief medical officer of Ghana, are expected to speak about violence prevention initiatives in their countries.
Several UK experts will participate in the event, addressing topics such as the links between violence in the media and crime, and links between alcohol and violence.
A series of workshops will also cover a range of topics from the importance of early years education, schools-based life skills training programmes for youngsters, to policing and criminal justice.
The Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) was set up in 2005 and is led by Det Ch Supt John Carnochan.
"This conference demonstrates the understanding that we now have between the police and health professionals over the need for a shared agenda and ability to work together to tackle violence using the public health model," he said.
According to the VRU, Scotland is the only country in the world currently addressing violence using the model described in the WHO's 2002 World Report on Violence and Health.