A sheriff termed Facebook an “anti-social networking site” after sending a knife-carrying youth to detention.
Sheriff Richard Davidson told 16-year-old Liam Scott, of Lochee Road, Dundee who was caught with a seven-inch blade after responding to a challenge on Facebook to fight that knife-carriers would “go to jail every time.”
He added that anyone who believed that disturbances seen in English cities could not happen in Dundee were “deluding themselves”.
Politicians applauded Sheriff Davidson’s message and actions on knife crime but they defended Facebook’s role in society.
Dundee West MP Jim McGovern said: “Knife crime is a very serious issue. Young people need to know that carrying a knife is unacceptable and they will be punished.
“There is no excuse for threatening members of the public and other youngsters. Research has shown that young people who carry knives are much more likely to be victims of violence themselves.”
He added, “Facebook is like any other form of communication it can be abused and used for the wrong reasons.”
Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said: “While social networks do make it easier for thugs to issue challenges and try to arrange riots and anti-social behaviour they are also public networks so the police are more easily able to intervene and arrest the perpetrators.”
List MSP Jenny Marra said: “it is up to the users to exercise responsibility” on Facebook.
The sheriff sentenced Scott to 140 days’ detention. Slamming a social inquiry report on Scott as one of the “stupidest” he had seen recently, Sheriff Davidson said, “It is disgraceful that this report demonstrated no indication on the harm caused by criminals aged 10 years and upwards running through the streets of the United Kingdom.
“Anyone who thinks it could not happen here is deluding themselves.”
Scott admitted carrying the knife in Lochee Road on April 23.
Solicitor Kevin McGinness said his client recognised the seriousness of the offence and knew detention was an option but that he hoped such a disposal could be avoided.
Sheriff Davidson replied: “Should I send him on a holiday to the West Highlands?”
Mr McGinness said: “He is 16, has never been in court before and on the night in question drank three litres of cider.”
Sheriff Davidson replied: “He thinks it is appropriate to respond to a Facebook challenge and go out with a seven-inch blade. It is a sad story that he has no father and a mother that can’t cope with him. It is a story that is repeated throughout the rioting population of the UK.
“It is symptomatic a young man who drinks too much and no-one cares what he is doing. This is why young men end up on mortuary slabs.”
The sheriff said there would be no “soft option” for anyone possessing a blade.
He said: “This court will not tolerate people carrying knives in this city and they will go to jail every time.”