The Scottish Labour Party have said the Scottish Government’s proposed legislation on tackling knife crime is not tough enough and have stated the issue should be treated in the same way as gun crime, with offenders jailed in all but the most exceptional circumstances.
Justice spokesman Richard Baker said the proposed SNP legislation to tackle the problem is an "unacceptable failure".
Labour is to bring forward amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill in an attempt to ensure people convicted of a knife crime are automatically sent to prison.
Mr Baker said: "There are some 3,500 charges of possession of an offensive weapon each year and higher rates of violent crime than in England. That is why it is time to send out a clear message: carry a knife and go to jail."
The Bill would cut the number of jail sentences of six months or fewer and, under the proposals, courts can only impose such sentences when they conclude that no other method of dealing with the person is appropriate.
Mr Baker said fewer people caught carrying a knife will end up in prison if Holyrood passes the Bill as it stands.
"The lack of action on knife crime in this Bill is another unacceptable failure. Labour will ensure that the courts will be compelled to give custodial sentences for knife criminals unless there are very exceptional circumstances. This is the same way that firearms crime is dealt with in Scotland."
However a Scottish Government spokeswoman said ministers were taking tough action on knife crime. She said the Government was doing "more than ever before" and had also recruited a record number of police officers to catch them.
The spokesperson added 2,000 knives have been taken off the streets in the past two years, with those caught "dealt with by the full force of the law".
She said: "We've seen jail terms for knife carrying increase by a third, while the Justice Secretary has made clear that those who use a knife should expect to go to jail.
"Courts have been given powers recently to impose four-year sentences just for carrying a knife, while our proposed sentencing council can take a considered look at sentencing for knife offences, taking into account the views of the public, victims and police."
