Mr Rowe believes the police could bring to book the real killers and said they should show the same commitment to solving the crime that the Metropolitan Police have with the Michael Menson and Stephen Lawrence cases.

BBC: Bittersweet freedom for M25 man

New York requires locked storage of guns if you live with someone prohibited from them because of a crime, commitment to a mental institution or court protection order and made the unsafe storage of assault weapons a misdemeanor.

WSJ: How Conn. gun bill compares to new NY, Colo. laws

The Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill says the figures are very positive and underline the continuing commitment of prosecutors, police, government and partners working with young people to tackle knife crime.

BBC: Man in a hoodie holding a knife

"The significant drop in the number of knife offences during the Crown Office festive campaign is very positive and underlines the continuing commitment of prosecutors, police, government and partners working with young people to tackle knife crime, " he said.

BBC: Man in a hoodie holding a knife

That's because the coalition government's programme for government contains a commitment to create "a single agency to take on the work of tackling serious economic crime done by the Serious Fraud Office, the Financial Services Authority and the Office of Fair Trading".

BBC: Lawyers no longer to front fraud probes