Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 10 June 2021
I first wish good luck to everybody who is delivering their maiden speech today. I know how it feels; I was very proud to stand here last week and deliver mine.
I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate. This is my first chamber speech on the subject, which is an issue that everybody can relate to in some way.
Think about this: do we really feel safe—in our homes, at work, for kids at school and when walking down our streets? Who is responsible for keeping us safe and who is supposed to protect us when we are most vulnerable? It does not give me great joy to ask people whether they feel safe in their homes, at work, or when walking down the streets.
Justice, victims, and catching criminals: those issues should be at the heart of governing in our country. But what do we see that those things really mean for the Scottish National Party? Before the pandemic, violent crime had risen for the previous five years, with non-sexual crimes of violence having risen by 50 per cent between 2014-15 and 2019-20. I ask the cabinet secretary this: is that acceptable?
The SNP spends double the amount on criminals that it spends on victims. In 2021-22, £43.1 million was spent on offenders’ services. For those who are victims at the hands of those criminals, there was a measly £18.2 million. I ask the cabinet secretary this: is that fair?
Most areas in Scotland have fewer front-line police officers on the beat since the SNP’s police merger. I ask the cabinet secretary this: is that the SNP taking crime seriously?