Scottish First Minister will bring together voices
from across Scotland to focus on actions that can help prevent
youth violence.
The summit will include contributions from the Justice and
Education Secretaries, Ministers for Children and for Victims
& Community Safety, as well as cross-party MSPs, youth
workers and partners delivering violence reduction and other
community programmes for young people. It follows earlier
discussions led by the First Minister to hear young people and
their families' experience of violence and their ideas on
possible solutions.
The gathering is expected to focus on actions through education
and community engagement with young people at risk of violence
and prevent them from turning to antisocial behaviour or crime,
including carrying a weapon.
Ahead of Thursday's summit, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice
said:
“It's important to be clear that Scotland remains a safe place to
live. But more needs to be done to change the attitudes and
behaviours of some who are at risk of violence, or those young
people who are considering carrying a weapon. There is no place
for violence in Scotland and anyone who commits a crime, will
face the consequences.
“Our work remains focused on ensuring our prevention and
punishment measures respond to the changing behaviours of young
people. This includes ensuring good school and community
engagement with young people, appropriate police powers and
tackling the root causes of violence.
“At this meeting we want to hear the views of the youth work and
third sector representatives on what more, or different, can be
done, within the current financial climate, to help address this
issue. The role of youth work and grassroot community
intervention is key. We all must work together to help young
people feel safe and realise that carrying a knife is never the
answer.”
Background
Police Scotland have advised the total number of serious assaults
by 11 to 18 year olds fell 27% between 2019/20 and 2024/25 from
428 to 313.
An additional £82,000 funding for the Scottish Violence Reduction
Unit was announced earlier this week as part of the Scottish
Government's broader package to tackle violence. This takes their
funding for this year to £1.217 million, which is a 7%
increase.
Medics Against Violence have also received increased funding of
up to £345,000 to deliver a range of activities including the
Hospital Navigator programme and a further £156,000 has been
awarded to the Mentors in Violence Prevention programme.
We are also providing record funding to the police this year
investing £1.64 billion - an increase of almost £90
million.
