Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 25 June 2026 [Draft]
25 Jun 2026 · S7 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
General Question Time
Knife Crime Prevention Strategy
This month, three teenagers were convicted of murdering Kayden Moy at Irvine beach last May. That is just one example. In that case, the superintendent, Graeme Gallie, said that
“violent crime among young people is falling”
but that
“weapon carrying is on the rise.”
That is the point that the Scottish Government needs to think about in its strategy. The superintendent also said:
“We have through our stop and search activity noticed that weapon-carrying is on the increase, especially amongst teenagers.”
Of course, we know that some teenagers carry a weapon because they want to feel safe.
I have had some conversations with the legal profession—
In the same item of business
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to renew its strategy on preventing knife crime, particularly among young people. (S7O-00131)
The Minister for Victims and Community Safety (Kirsten Oswald)
SNP
I am grateful to Pauline McNeill for asking that important question. A new strategy to prevent violence is being developed with key stakeholders, including t...
Pauline McNeill
Lab
This month, three teenagers were convicted of murdering Kayden Moy at Irvine beach last May. That is just one example. In that case, the superintendent, Grae...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Please ask a question. We are trying to get a lot of people in here, and the idea is to ask questions and get answers.
Pauline McNeill
Lab
I am trying to get across a substantial point. I want to give the background—
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I do not want the background; I want a question, please.
Pauline McNeill
Lab
I have to get a chance to set the context, but, okay, I will ask the question.Has the Government spoken to the legal profession, which has defended boys, abo...
Kirsten Oswald
SNP
I appreciate the importance that the member is placing on this issue. It is a matter of concern to all of us. We are all equally invested in making sure that...
Dawn Black (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
SNP
Ensuring that Scotland’s communities remain safe places to live in is absolutely crucial, which is why we must invest in early intervention to target those w...
Kirsten Oswald
SNP
I am grateful to Dawn Black for her focus on the vital importance of our communities being and feeling like safe places to live in. We know that the conseque...
Stephen Kerr (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
Why have ministers not delivered the level of proactive policing that is needed to disrupt knife carrying before lives are even put at risk instead of relyin...
Kirsten Oswald
SNP
I am grateful to Stephen Kerr for his question, but I point him to some of the previous answers that I have given. There needs to be a holistic approach to t...