Rest of the story:
Jamieson added: "We have seen the impact of Operation Blade and I want to see that replicated throughout Scotland."
She appealed to those who carry knives: "Use the amnesty as an opportunity to put this behind you and stop more young people being killed or maimed."
Launching the amnesty for England and Wales, Home Secretary Charles Clarke said: "Every weapon handed in will be a weapon that cannot be used in crime.
"Anyone with a knife or other weapon that might be used to cause fear and distress on our streets should take this chance to get rid of it."
During the amnesty, which will run from May 24 to June 30, there will be disposal points for weapons at police stations and other locations around Scotland.
Knives will be forensically checked to see if they have been used in any crime but it is expected that the vast majority will just be destroyed.
Lord Advocate Colin Boyd will retain his right to prosecute if there is evidence a knife has been used in an offence.
Boyd said yesterday the Crown Office were also carrying out a major review of their policy on knife crime.
He added: "They will give careful consideration to prosecuting persistent and violent offenders, in a court empowered to send them to prison for the maximum period allowed by law."
The Executive's plans to double the maximum sentence for carrying a blade to four years have been criticised as not doing enough.
Critics point out most offences are dealt with as summary crimes - which attract a much lower sentence.
Scottish Tories welcomed the amnesty.
Justice spokeswoman Margaret Mitchell said: "At a time when knife crime is reaching almost epidemic proportions, an amnesty to get these lethal weapons off the streets is clearly a step in the right direction."
SNP justice spokesman Kenny MacAskill said: "We welcome this amnesty as part of the efforts to tackle this problem.
"It must be made clear after the amnesty is over, there will be no excuses for carrying a knife or a sword in Scotland."
"...Knives will be forensically checked to see if they have been used in any crime but it is expected that the vast majority will just be destroyed. Lord Advocate Colin Boyd will retain his right to prosecute if there is evidence a knife has been used in an offence..."
I'd love to see what kind of forensic evidence they can pull off a knife that has been boiled in bleach for thirty minutes. This obviously isn't an "amnesty program" as far as criminals in that country would be concerned.
This is simply absurd legislation that is designed to make people feel like they're "doing something" but absolutely won't do anything to reduce violence or solve old crimes. How people get suckered into stuff like this over and over again is beyond me.
~ Blue Jays ~
So, are they going to level Sheffield, and incarcerate all it's citizens as menaces to society?
Still blaming the inanimate object in place of the criminal!