Swinney meets with family of boy who was victim of knife crime

They discussed ways to tackle knife crime and youth violence so other families do not suffer the same tragedy.

Earlier this year, Mr Swinney brought together political parties so they could hear directly from young people and their families’ about their experiences of violence and their ideas on possible solutions. A further summit took place in June with police, CoSLA, youth work and violence reduction partners.

Mr Swinney said: “The justice secretary and I were extremely grateful to Kory McCrimmon’s family for meeting us yesterday. I offered my heartfelt condolences for the unimaginable loss they suffered – losing a child in that way is utterly heartbreaking.

“We listened carefully to their concerns and suggestions for ways to prevent other families from experiencing the same tragedy.

“We agreed with the family that there is absolutely no justification for carrying any weapon, including knives, at anytime, anywhere – and we must be relentless in that message. We also agreed about the importance of prevention and early intervention through education and effective consequences in place for those who believe they can commit violence including knife crime.

“I look forward to meeting again with the family to continue our discussions.”