Youth violence branded 'public health emergency' as Scots campaigners urge authorities to cut knife deaths

Daily Record

9 hours ago

East Kilbride Neighbourhood Watch and Community Impact Project have stepped up their fight for urgent action on the country's knife crime and youth violence epidemic.
Anti-knife crime campaigners have challenged authorities to act now to save young lives branding youth violence a "public health emergency".
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East Kilbride Neighbourhood Watch and Community Impact Project have petitioned South Lanarkshire Council and Police Scotland to urgently address the rise in knife crime and youth violence in East Kilbride following the tragic death of local 16-year-old Kayden Moy at Irvine Beach.
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More than 1900 people have signed the petition and an anti-knife crime march in Glasgow last month in memory of Kayden Moy and Scots knife crime victims Kory McCrimmon and Amen Teklay stepped up their fight for urgent action on the country's knife crime and youth violence epidemic.
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But chairman KJ Yates told Lanarkshire Live the group are becoming "increasingly frustrating" and "disappointed" that Police Scotland and First Minister John Swinney have yet to respond to their calls for action.
"It is becoming increasingly frustrating - and frankly disappointing - that key stakeholders have yet to respond to our petition", he said.
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'We have consistently called knife crime and youth violence a Public Health Emergency - and today, we reaffirm that call. This crisis is destroying lives, traumatising families, and putting a generation at risk.
" We welcome the cross-party support of Joani Reid MP and Collette Stevenson MSP, but now urge South Lanarkshire Council, Police Scotland, local councillors, charities and community groups to step up."
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Figures gathered by the pressure group show that in South Lanarkshire violent crime has risen by 21 per cent in recent years with youth-related violence and knife possession increasingly common.In Glasgow, knife crime rose by 13 per cent between 2022 and 2024 and almost one third of all stop searches for weapons now involve teenagers.Across Scotland last year 91 children were caught carrying knives - some as young as 10 - and there was a 600 per cent rise in serious youth assaults with Police Scotland seizing 248 knives from schools.
Joani Reid, Scottish Labour MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, described social media as a "breeding ground for youth violence" and said she would make knife crime a focus of her campaigning and constituency work over the summer.
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She called on ministers to "get tough" with social media companies who allow teens to pose with dangerous weapons while highlighting the tragic death of Kayden Moy at Home Office questions earlier this month.
Mr Yates added: "We also call on the First Minister to consider using Scotland's existing public health emergency powers and direct his ministers to coordinate a national, trauma-informed response.
"This is for Kayden Moy, Kory McCrimmon, and Amen Teklay - it's also about every young person across Scotland presently at risk who deserves to grow up safe, seen, and supported. It's time to step up, take action and save lives."
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Kayden Moy was found seriously injured on Irvine beach in North Ayrshire on May 17, and later died at Crosshouse Hospital. He was laid to rest just five days after what would have been his 17th birthday.
Three teenagers have been arrested following Kayden's death. Two 17-year-olds and a 14-year-old have appeared in court charged with murder.
Mr Yates continued: "Kayden Moy, a promising 16-year-old from East Kilbride -his life full of talent, dreams and potential - was cut short. His family was devastated.
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"Kayden wasn't just a name in the news, he was part of our community. Sadly, Kayden is not the only one."
Chief Superintendent Vicky Watson said tackling the harmful effects of violent crime remains a priority for police in Scotland.
"Violence in any form and the possession of weapons in our communities has no place in Scotland and is entirely unacceptable", said Ch Supt Watson.
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"We understand concerns in relation to the tragic death of Kayden Moy, and our thoughts remain with his family and friends. We know that this has had a devastating impact, not only on his loved ones, but also the wider community in East Kilbride and beyond.
"Our local officers, school campus officers and dedicated preventions officers continue to respond to the concerns raised by the community in respect of knife crime. This includes providing educational workshops to high school and late primary school pupils, highlighting the dangers of carrying a weapon and the devastating impact it can have on those involved."
She added: "We continue to deliver our 'No Knives, Better Lives' workshops, and are engaging with youth groups in the East Kilbride area to encourage our young people to make better choices.
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"We are carrying out work with key partners in the YMCA and the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit and have recently launched a survey aimed at youths in the area to gather their views on knife crime and what measures can be implemented in response, as part of a collaborative approach.
"Tackling the harmful effects of violent crime remains a priority for our officers and we are determined to keep our communities safe."
South Lanarkshire Council have offered their support to the campaign.
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A spokesperson said: 'This has been a tragic event and our profound sympathies go out to Kayden's loved ones.
'We would be willing to engage with East Kilbride Community Association & Neighbourhood Watch and other partners about the potential for council involvement in any efforts to tackle knife crime.'
The Scottish Government said it is investing over £500,000 in violence prevention programmes for 2025/26, including £345,000 for Medics Against Violence's Hospital Navigator programme and £156,000 for Mentors in Violence Prevention to ensure early intervention and prevention.
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They added that this is in addition to "record" police investment of £1.64 billion this year - up almost £90 million - and follows £48 million awarded to victims' organisations since 2022, including £18 million to Victim Support Scotland.
A spokesman said: 'We send our heartfelt condolences to Kayden Moy's family and every family who has suffered unimaginable loss due to knife crime.
'The Scottish Government has been clear that no one should ever carry a weapon and we are taking action with increased funding for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit as part of a broader package to tackle violence."
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Sign the petition here.
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