Summit to address problem of youth violence

John Swinney

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 Angela Constance 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.”