Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 11 March 2026 [Draft]
11 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Knife Crime (North Ayrshire)
While acknowledging that one knife crime is one too many, I note that knife crime has fallen considerably over the past 20 years. In North Ayrshire, the number of recorded crimes of weapons possession that specifically reference the presence of a knife or a bladed or pointed article decreased by 33 per cent from 123 in 2007-08 to 83 in 2024-25. Significantly, emergency hospital admissions in NHS Ayrshire and Arran due to assault by a sharp object decreased by 78 per cent from 81 in 2007-08 to just 18 in 2024-25, although 18 is still too many. That is a welcome contribution to the 70 per cent fall in admissions due to sharp-object assault that has been seen across the whole of Scotland since 2007.
In the same item of business
1. Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
To ask the Scottish Government how many crimes involving a knife there were in North Ayrshire in 2007-08 and 2024-25. (S6O-05619)
The Minister for Victims and Community Safety (Siobhian Brown)
SNP
While acknowledging that one knife crime is one too many, I note that knife crime has fallen considerably over the past 20 years. In North Ayrshire, the numb...
Kenneth Gibson
SNP
Can the minister say what impact the creation of Police Scotland has had on the efficiency and effectiveness of our dedicated police officers? Can she confir...
Siobhian Brown
SNP
I agree with the member on that point. Although one homicide would still be too many, homicides in Scotland are at a record low. The number of sharp object-r...
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
At the start of this parliamentary session, North Ayrshire recorded 130 cases of people possessing an article with a blade or point in a public setting. The ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Please respond with regard to the substantive question, minister.
Siobhian Brown
SNP
Any level of violence is unacceptable. However, as I said in my answer to the first question, there has been a reduction since 2007.In relation to work that ...
Katy Clark (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
After the death of 16-year-old Kayden Moy, who was stabbed on Irvine beach in May 2025, cuts in funding for the no knives, better lives programme were raised...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Again, please respond in relation to the substantive question, minister.
Siobhian Brown
SNP
I do not have the exact figures with me, but I know that, through the children, young people and families early intervention, 11 youth work organisations in ...