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| Drunken violence plans attacked | Drunken violence plans attacked |
| (2 days later) | |
| Moves to create legislation to stop people using drunkenness as an excuse for violent crime have come under fire. | Moves to create legislation to stop people using drunkenness as an excuse for violent crime have come under fire. |
| Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill outlined his plans at a World Health Organization conference on violence at Tulliallan Police College. | |
| But eminent lawyer Joe Beltrami said alcohol has never been considered as a mitigating factor by Scottish courts. | But eminent lawyer Joe Beltrami said alcohol has never been considered as a mitigating factor by Scottish courts. |
| 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. |
| 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 Kenny McAskillJustice secretary | 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 Kenny McAskillJustice secretary |
| Speaking at Tulliallan, in Fife, Mr MacAskill said: "Here in Scotland we have a clear lethal cocktail of alcohol and knives that results in carnage. | |
| "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." | "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. | He said 70% of those who commit murder are under the influence of drink or drugs. |
| 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." | 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." |
| The statement he made this morning doesn't make sense - it has always been the case that it is not a mitigatory factor Joe Beltrami | The statement he made this morning doesn't make sense - it has always been the case that it is not a mitigatory factor Joe Beltrami |
| The justice department is to undertake a review to see whether a future Criminal Justice Bill can make a clear statement in law that being drunk will not be accepted in courts as an excuse for bad behaviour. | The justice department is to undertake a review to see whether a future Criminal Justice Bill can make a clear statement in law that being drunk will not be accepted in courts as an excuse for bad behaviour. |
| Mr MacAskill said: "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." | |
| But Mr Beltrami accused the minister of not understanding how the law works. | But Mr Beltrami accused the minister of not understanding how the law works. |
| He told BBC Scotland: "He should consult people who know what they are doing, who know their way about the courts, for example myself, and we'd help to keep him right. | He told BBC Scotland: "He should consult people who know what they are doing, who know their way about the courts, for example myself, and we'd help to keep him right. |
| The licensed trade called for more responsible drinking | The licensed trade called for more responsible drinking |
| "But the statement he made this morning doesn't make sense - it has always been the case that it is not a mitigatory factor, it's an aggravating factor, no doubt." | "But the statement he made this morning doesn't make sense - it has always been the case that it is not a mitigatory factor, it's an aggravating factor, no doubt." |
| Labour's justice spokeswoman Margaret Curran said: "Labour agrees with the sentiments from the SNP justice secretary, but this is just one step and in dealing with a drinking culture, the wider issues must be addressed, for example poor health and antisocial behaviour." | Labour's justice spokeswoman Margaret Curran said: "Labour agrees with the sentiments from the SNP justice secretary, but this is just one step and in dealing with a drinking culture, the wider issues must be addressed, for example poor health and antisocial behaviour." |
| The Scottish Conservative Party said when it comes to alcohol abuse, some of the statistics were chilling. | The Scottish Conservative Party said when it comes to alcohol abuse, some of the statistics were chilling. |
| John Lamont MSP said: "These figures are clear evidence that the last executive's strategy to tackle alcohol abuse didn't make any impact on the problem." | John Lamont MSP said: "These figures are clear evidence that the last executive's strategy to tackle alcohol abuse didn't make any impact on the problem." |
| The Scottish Beer and Pub Association supported Mr MacAskill's view that drunkenness was no excuse for violence. | |
| Chief executive Patrick Browne said: "Personal freedom to consume alcohol brings with it the personal responsibility to consume it sensibly." | |
| 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 at Tulliallan Castle from is hosting more than 200 researchers, practitioners and advocates in the field. | The two-day meeting at Tulliallan Castle from is hosting more than 200 researchers, practitioners and advocates in the field. |