Meeting of the Parliament 25 June 2026 [Draft]
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 consequences of knife crime can be devastating. That is why we continue to invest in violence prevention programmes and, in particular, in early intervention programmes that are aimed at children and young people. Education programmes on the danger and unacceptability of carrying a knife, such as YouthLink Scotland’s No Knives, Better Lives initiative, have provided information to hundreds of front-line practitioners who are particularly engaged with young people.
Of course, there are consequences when offences are committed, but the final element of our approach is sustained school and community engagement with young people, for instance through Police Scotland’s youth volunteers, to ensure that we have a focus on prevention and creating responsible citizens.