The Record has led the way in calling for efforts to tackle the epidemic of youth violence with our long-running Our Kids… Our Future campaign
Youth violence campaigners Vicky and Kaylynn Donald outside Bute House in Edinburgh(Image: Daily Record)
Young Scots are living in fear as a result of the SNP Government’s failure to stop a rise in youth violence, Anas Sarwar has warned.
The Scottish Labour leader spoke out after official figures found almost 14,000 violent crimes were committed by children and young people in one year – with a sharp rise in rates of offending by kids aged 11-14.
Of the 13,695 violent crimes involving youths last year, 64 per cent were common assaults and 32 per cent were threatening or abusive behaviour.
But there were also 91 instances of under-18s carrying weapons – more than one instance every four days.
A 2023 report by the EIS teaching union found that 83 per cent of branches said their members faced incidents of “violence and aggression” every week.
The Record has led the way in calling for efforts to tackle the epidemic of youth violence with our long-running Our Kids… Our Future campaign, which has urged the Government and local councils to ring-fence funding to make sure every community has a place for teenagers to go.
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Speaking ahead of a visit to a youth centre in South Lanarkshire, Sarwar has said that the SNP has “turned away” from Scotland’s young people and left them to face rising crime alone.
“The facts are clear – Scotland is facing rising violent crime among young people and the SNP is doing nothing to tackle the situation,” he said.
“The situation is so bad that we now have reports of children carrying weapons and our classrooms have turned into dangerous spaces for too many students and teachers.
“But while the situation deteriorates, the SNP stands by and does nothing. I am not prepared to see an entire generation live in fear of rising crime.
“As First Minister I will act to keep young people safe.
“Scottish Labour will support our police, invest in our young people and take a zero-tolerance approach to violence in schools, starting by ban mobile phones from our classrooms.
“We cannot allow a generation to be failed – it’s time for a new direction for Scotland.”
The Record’s Our Kids … Our Future campaign
John Swinney previously announced a third summit on youth violence would take place this year.
As we reported in June, the mum of a schoolgirl who was brutally battered on a school bus has begged “this cannot be another talking shop”
Vicky Donald’s 15-year-old daughter, Kaylynn, was attacked during the journey on her way home from class in Ladybank, Fife, two years ago. Since then she has called for urgent action as a youth violence epidemic grips Scotland.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We welcome Police Scotland statistics showing the level of violence involving children has fallen compared to last year, with a decrease in children identified accused of weapons offences.
“While violent crime has significantly reduced in the past 20 years, that is of no comfort to victims. That is why we are focused on reducing violence and have a clear message that no weapon should be carried at any time in any place.
“We continue to tackle youth violence through education programmes, effective consequences for offences, appropriate police powers and sustained school and community engagement with young people.”
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