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Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Edinburgh child, 10, caught with knife as "truly shocking" stats show primary kids carry blades
Edinburgh Police caught a 10-year-old child carrying a knife in the city as new, "truly shocking" figures revealed that dozens of children have been found with blades across Scotland this year- including primary school pupils. Police Scotland confiscated knives from at least 91 people who were under the age of 18 in 2024 through stop-and-search powers, which adds up to one child caught with a weapon every four days, reports The Daily Record. The release of these shocking statistics comes just weeks after the death of schoolboy, Kayden Moy, the third teen to lose his life to youth violence in the last year. READ MORE: Family airlifted to Edinburgh hospital after baby struggles to breathe READ MORE: Edinburgh locals 'really bugged' by 'glaring mistake' on hit Netflix series Numerous incidents involving kids as young as 12 caught with knives occurred in Edinburgh, Ayrshire, Glasgow and Lanarkshire, according to an analysis by justice magazine 1919. Over a dozen 13-year-olds - including two girls - underwent blade searches that came back positive. Now, teens account for almost a third of positive knife searches across all age groups. The disturbing incidents prompted warnings of a 'youth violence epidemic' which has been repeatedly highlighted by the Record's Our Kids... Our Future campaign, launched two years ago after we reported a worrying series of attacks on teens across the country. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox The Scottish Government is now under intensified pressure onto act after several high-profile cases. Labour justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said: 'These shocking figures are yet another sign that there is a youth violence epidemic emerging in Scotland. "The SNP has created a perfect storm by cutting youth work services, letting police numbers fall, and mismanaging mental health and education. "Every one of these 91 cases is very serious for our communities and potentially for those actually carrying the weapon. "The only way to tackle this effectively is to have early intervention schemes that get to the root cause." The Scottish Conservatives blamed 'soft-touch' sentencing for under-25s, claiming it has emboldened young offenders. Sharon Dowey MSP said: 'Knife crime has spiralled out of control. There must be meaningful punishments for those who use a knife and expanded stop-and-search powers for police to act as a deterrent. "The SNP's soft-touch attitude towards justice represents an abject dereliction of duty by John Swinney's government." Scottish Police Federation chair, David Threadgold, added: "This is a concerning societal trend we now see emerging among younger members of our communities in Scotland," he said. 'Each of these statistics is a real situation which created significant risk for my colleagues, as well as potentially life changing consequences for the perpetrator, and sadly, the victims of knife crime, their families and friends. 'The solution to this problem cannot rest alone with the police; much greater and more effective preventative strategies have to be in place." First Minister John Swinney recently said the Government's strategy would focus on three steps – educating young people on the dangers of knives, police searches of people who they think may be carrying a knife and punishment of those caught with weapons. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Stop and search powers should be used where lawful, necessary and proportionate. Their use in individual cases is an operational matter for Police Scotland. 'Police do use stop and search, and it is one tool to tackle violence alongside a range of other measures such as prevention and education.' Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Edinburgh Live
2 days ago
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh child, 10, caught with knife as "truly shocking" stats show primary kids carry blades
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Edinburgh Police caught a 10-year-old child carrying a knife in the city as new, "truly shocking" figures revealed that dozens of children have been found with blades across Scotland this year- including primary school pupils. Police Scotland confiscated knives from at least 91 people who were under the age of 18 in 2024 through stop-and-search powers, which adds up to one child caught with a weapon every four days, reports The Daily Record. The release of these shocking statistics comes just weeks after the death of schoolboy, Kayden Moy, the third teen to lose his life to youth violence in the last year. Numerous incidents involving kids as young as 12 caught with knives occurred in Edinburgh, Ayrshire, Glasgow and Lanarkshire, according to an analysis by justice magazine 1919. Over a dozen 13-year-olds - including two girls - underwent blade searches that came back positive. Now, teens account for almost a third of positive knife searches across all age groups. The disturbing incidents prompted warnings of a 'youth violence epidemic' which has been repeatedly highlighted by the Record's Our Kids... Our Future campaign, launched two years ago after we reported a worrying series of attacks on teens across the country. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox The Scottish Government is now under intensified pressure onto act after several high-profile cases. Labour justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said: 'These shocking figures are yet another sign that there is a youth violence epidemic emerging in Scotland. "The SNP has created a perfect storm by cutting youth work services, letting police numbers fall, and mismanaging mental health and education. "Every one of these 91 cases is very serious for our communities and potentially for those actually carrying the weapon. "The only way to tackle this effectively is to have early intervention schemes that get to the root cause." The Scottish Conservatives blamed 'soft-touch' sentencing for under-25s, claiming it has emboldened young offenders. Sharon Dowey MSP said: 'Knife crime has spiralled out of control. There must be meaningful punishments for those who use a knife and expanded stop-and-search powers for police to act as a deterrent. "The SNP's soft-touch attitude towards justice represents an abject dereliction of duty by John Swinney's government." Scottish Police Federation chair, David Threadgold, added: "This is a concerning societal trend we now see emerging among younger members of our communities in Scotland," he said. 'Each of these statistics is a real situation which created significant risk for my colleagues, as well as potentially life changing consequences for the perpetrator, and sadly, the victims of knife crime, their families and friends. 'The solution to this problem cannot rest alone with the police; much greater and more effective preventative strategies have to be in place." First Minister John Swinney recently said the Government's strategy would focus on three steps – educating young people on the dangers of knives, police searches of people who they think may be carrying a knife and punishment of those caught with weapons. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Stop and search powers should be used where lawful, necessary and proportionate. Their use in individual cases is an operational matter for Police Scotland. 'Police do use stop and search, and it is one tool to tackle violence alongside a range of other measures such as prevention and education.' Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Cops catch 10-year-old with knife in Edinburgh as "truly shocking" stats show primary kids carry blades
Police are catching a child with a knife every four days — including primary pupils — as new stats expose the scale of youth violence in Scotland. A 10-year-old child was caught carrying a knife in Edinburgh as "truly shocking" new figures reveal dozens of children - including primary school pupils - have been found with blades across Scotland this year. Police Scotland seized knives from at least 91 under-18s in 2024 using stop-and-search powers, meaning a child is being caught with a weapon every four days. The alarming statistics come just weeks after the death of schoolboy Kayden Moy, the third teenager to lose his life to youth violence in the past year. Multiple incidents involving children as young as 12 being caught with knives occurred in Edinburgh, Ayrshire, Glasgow and Lanarkshire, according to an analysis by justice magazine 1919. More than a dozen 13-year-olds - including two girls - were also subjected to positive blade searches. Teens now account for almost a third of positive knife searches across all age groups. The disturbing incidents prompted warnings of a 'youth violence epidemic' which has been repeatedly highlighted by the Record's Our Kids... Our Future campaign, launched two years ago after we reported a worrying series of attacks on teens across the country. The Scottish Government is now under intensified pressure onto act after several high-profile cases. Labour justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said: 'These shocking figures are yet another sign that there is a youth violence epidemic emerging in Scotland. "The SNP has created a perfect storm by cutting youth work services, letting police numbers fall, and mismanaging mental health and education. "Every one of these 91 cases is very serious for our communities and potentially for those actually carrying the weapon. "The only way to tackle this effectively is to have early intervention schemes that get to the root cause." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The Scottish Conservatives blamed 'soft-touch' sentencing for under-25s, claiming it has emboldened young offenders. Sharon Dowey MSP said: 'Knife crime has spiralled out of control. There must be meaningful punishments for those who use a knife and expanded stop-and-search powers for police to act as a deterrent. "The SNP's soft-touch attitude towards justice represents an abject dereliction of duty by John Swinney's government." Scottish Police Federation chair, David Threadgold, added: "This is a concerning societal trend we now see emerging among younger members of our communities in Scotland," he said. 'Each of these statistics is a real situation which created significant risk for my colleagues, as well as potentially life changing consequences for the perpetrator, and sadly, the victims of knife crime, their families and friends. 'The solution to this problem cannot rest alone with the police; much greater and more effective preventative strategies have to be in place." First Minister John Swinney recently said the Government's strategy would focus on three steps – educating young people on the dangers of knives, police searches of people who they think may be carrying a knife and punishment of those caught with weapons. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Stop and search powers should be used where lawful, necessary and proportionate. Their use in individual cases is an operational matter for Police Scotland. 'Police do use stop and search, and it is one tool to tackle violence alongside a range of other measures such as prevention and education.'
Daily Record
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Swinney insists cops already have ‘extensive' stop-and-search powers amid youth violence epidemic
Calls have been made for greater police powers so officers can search knife-wielding kids amid a youth violence epidemic. John Swinney has insisted that police already have 'extensive' stop-and-search powers in response to calls for them to be extended to crack down on knife violence among kids. The First Minister appeared to rebuff suggestions that police should be given wider remits to stop and search youths suspected of carrying weapons. The Scottish Police Federation's general secretary, David Kennedy, told the Record last week that it is currently difficult to establish 'reasonable cause' for searching under-16s. His calls were echoed by the Scottish Conservatives, who said there have been 13 alleged knife attacks on teenagers in recent months – two of which were fatal. During a by-election campaign event in Hamilton on Monday, Mr Swinney was asked if he agreed with the suggestion. He told the PA news agency: 'There's extensive search powers available to Police Scotland already, which can be used in circumstances where they have reasonable belief that a knife may be being carried, or there's a reason for a search.' The calls have come amid the Record's youth violence campaign, Our Kids ... Our Future. The campaign was launched two years ago after we reported on a concerning series of attacks on teens across the country. As part of Our Kids ... Our Future, we have repeatedly demanded the government to invest in young people, where they can be mentored and guided in every community. Asked if the Government's current strategy is working in light of recent events, Swinney said it would focus on three steps – educating young people on the dangers of knives, police searches of people who they think may be carrying a knife and punishment of those caught with weapons. Mr Swinney added: 'I will constantly be looking to make sure Scotland is as safe a country as we possibly can be. 'We're a much safer country today than we were in the past. We've got huge falls in knife crime over the last 15 years. 'But that mustn't in any way stop us from looking for means of making our country ever more safe.' Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay had earlier said there is a 'growing epidemic' of youth violence. He said: ' Stop-and-search powers need to be extended immediately while a fundamental rethink is required of the SNP's weak approach which fails victims and fuels violence. 'John Swinney should listen to frontline officers who know how to get this crisis under control and prevent more young lives being needlessly lost.' Last week Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell made a 'clear plea' to everyone in Scotland – saying 'do not carry weapons '. On the preceding weekend 16-year-old Kayden Moy died following an attack on Irvine beach, North Ayrshire. Two other teenagers have been arrested and charged in connection with his death.
Daily Record
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Calls for stop and search powers increase amid youth violence ‘epidemic'
The calls have been made in wake of 16-year-old Kayden Moy's tragic death last weekend. The Scottish Tories have called for police stop-and-search powers to be extended amid a 'growing epidemic' of youth violence. The Conservatives made the call as they said there have been 13 alleged knife attacks on teenagers in recent months, two of which were fata. The party also referenced recent comments by David Kennedy in the Daily Record earlier this week as part of its youth violence campaign, Our Kids ... Our Future. Kennedy, the general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, demanded "more power to save lives" in the wake of 16-year-old Kayden Moy's tragic death l ast weekend. "The tragic stabbing of a 16-year-old is yet another stark reminder of the growing threat of youth violence on our streets. "Police officers across Scotland are working tirelessly to keep the public safe, but we are operating with one hand tied behind our backs. Current stop and search powers do not go far enough to tackle the rise in young people carrying weapons. "It has become increasingly difficult for police to deal with under 16s due to laws that were introduced to protect children and young people but, in fact, it does the opposite because police are left with their hands tied. "We have to be able to conduct stop and searches and do that no matter what age they are. As it stands, you need to have reasonable cause to do so and that will be difficult to establish when it comes to youths. "Youths are getting away with a lot in terms of crime nowadays and we urgently require new, robust legislation that empowers officers to act decisively and prevent violence before it happens. "The law must evolve to reflect the reality our officers face every day." Tory leader Russell Findlay said: 'Decisive and prompt action must be taken to stop the growing epidemic of youth violence, especially involving knives. 'Stop-and-search powers need to be extended immediately while a fundamental rethink is required of the SNP's weak approach which fails victims and fuels violence. '(First Minister) John Swinney should listen to frontline officers who know how to get this crisis under control and prevent more young lives being needlessly lost. 'Tougher stop-and-search powers would help police to prevent violence, protect young people and keep the public safe. 'These powers are merited because this is a matter of life or death. The SNP need to act now to avoid more attacks and killings on Scotland's streets.' Mr Findlay's party said that with 'more serious crimes' being referred to the children's panel rather than prosecuted in court, there are often 'no consequences' for serious offenders. Even when prosecutions do happen, the Tories said, sentencing guidelines mean those aged under 25 are 'less likely' to be jailed. Mr Findlay continued: 'In the longer term, John Swinney should show some common sense by recognising that his weak approach is sending a dangerous signal to young offenders. 'Too many young criminals think they can do whatever they want without any consequences for their actions, and it is usually other young people who pay the price.' The Record launched Our Kids ... Our Future in February 2023 after we reported on a concerning series of attacks on children across the country. As part of the campaign, we have demanded the Scottish Government to invest in young people so they can be mentored, guided and nurtured in every community.
