ANGUS MARTIAL artist Mark Davies is preparing to travel to Edinburgh this week to give a presentation to MSPs and their staff on his new knife education programme “The Cutting Edge,” which will also be the subject of a members debate after Tory MSP Alex Johnstone submitted a motion supporting it.

The programme was launched in August and is geared towards educating young people about the dangers of carrying a knife.

Mr Davies, who runs a martial arts school in Arbroath said, “I first thought about putting together this initiative after my nine-year-old son came home from school very frightened after his friend was threatened with a knife by another nine-year-old boy.

“As an instructor of edged weapons I want people to get the correct story about the knife, that it is illegal to carry or use against anyone in this country.

“Our programme is aimed at getting the decent kids who are carrying knives to see that they haven’t thought out the consequences of their actions, and that lashing out in anger, panic or fear will have a terrible and permanent effect not only on their life, but on the lives of everyone around them,” he said.

The programme, which does not include any self defence or physical training, takes the form of a verbal presentation supported by class notes and received considerable coverage when it was launched.

Mr Johnstone, who also attended the launch added, “Knife crime is a scourge on our society, and whilst the authorities are taking steps in an attempt to reduce it, I firmly believe that we should fully take on board the lessons that Mr Davies has learned over many years.”