Sr. Supt Chester Williams - Commander, Eastern Division Southside
"The weapon of choice being use is now knives and you would observe that for the past two weeks, almost every day we are sending out reports of someone being stabbed. So the fact that the weapon of choice is now knives, we are just basically telling the members of the public to be aware that you know what the weapon of choice being use in committing crime is now knives and try to refrain from being around persons who have knives and at the same time, to give warning to those who are walking around with knives and let them know, you know there is an offence under the crimes control act or the criminal justice act which prohibits the carrying of knives between 8pm and 5am, where the knife blade is over 3 inches, providing though that you cannot provide a reasonable explanation as to why you are carrying the knife. Again, it's a matter that we must use our discretion, because if we see a person who we know is a fisherman, a farmer coming home after 8 or between 8 and 5, we have to use our discretion and not charge them. But you are walking around with a knife and have no reason for having it then we will enforce the law. Because at the end of the day we are now seeing a trend where it is now the weapon of choice."

The penalty is a 500 dollar fine or six months imprisonment.