Latest news with #RussellFindlay
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
STEPHEN DAISLEY: Ross sauntered out, sulkier than a teenager sent to his bedroom
Russell Findlay has a way of putting questions. It's the incredulous tone, the dagger-sharp diction, the arctic stare, the shoulders that recoil like a feline catching its reflection. No matter the topic, no matter how outwardly reasonable the government's position, Findlay treats it like a monstrous crime. He could be querying climate mitigation policy and still he sounds like a desk sergeant reading a list of charges to a toerag who'd just been caught after his 17 mugging in as many days. In fact, climate mitigation policy was the very topic under discussion yesterday, and Findlay was in the highest of dudgeon. The Climate Change Committee had put out a report recommending steps to be taken so Scotland can meet Net Zero. It's the kind of report almost written for Findlay to steam about at FMQs, containing as it did proposals to turn Scotland into a high-tax, high-price, electric-motored, heat-pumped, semi-vegan dystopia. Imagine Planet of the Apes only at the end Charlton Heston finds a giant statue of Lorna Slater. Findlay fumed that, under the report's recommendations, 'the number of cattle and sheep in Scotland would need to fall by two million' in the next ten years. Culling two million sheep. There goes the SNP 's core vote. This was the point where Swinney should have said: Are you mad, man? I'm the MSP for Perthshire North. I'm hardly about to put thousands of farmers on the dole. Alas, he couldn't say that because, having signed up to the Net Zero religion, open deviation would make him a heretic. The doctrine would have to be finessed without any admission that the dogma was wrong. Or, as the First Minister put it: 'The government will consider specific proposals and bring them forward, and the parliament will have the opportunity to decide whether those proposals should be approved or not.' Ah, of course. When there's credit to be taken for climate targets, it belongs to the government. When there's a problem, it's parliament's mess to clear up. Next Findlay railed against the report's call for heat pump installations to be ramped up. He said 70 per cent of homes would need one to meet the Nationalists' eco goals, and only one per cent of houses boasted one today. And they don't come cheap: somewhere between £8,000 and £15,000. SNP ministers could cover that with their recent £20,000 bonus, but what about ordinary punters? Swinney blamed Brexit. I'm still not sure how, but he slipped it in there, as if it was a perfectly logical response, as if he didn't blame it in every answer to every question. One MSP not terribly impressed by this answer was Douglas Ross who began heckling from the cheap seats up the back of the Tory benches. Swinney began to stumble over his words, when Alison Johnstone's patience snapped like an overstretched bungee rope. The Presiding Officer gave Ross a right telling off, scolding him for having 'persistently refused to abide by our standing orders', then ordered him out of the chamber and told him not to come back for the rest of the day. He didn't move a muscle. Throats cleared awkwardly across the room. 'Mr Ross, I have asked you to leave the chamber,' Johnstone said. Still no movement. For a fleeting second or two, it looked as though things might get hairy, but after a pronounced pause, the former Tory leader picked up his parliament pass and sauntered out, sulkier than a teenager sent to his room. Johnstone seemed to think booting him out of FMQs was a sanction. If she really wanted to punish him, she should have made him sit through all 45 soul-sapping minutes. Ross was deprived of watching Nat backbencher Clare Adamson's halting attempt at reading out a question so planted it should have come with its own watering instructions. That's what they consider orderly at Holyrood, but speaking your mind, they chuck you out for that.
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Scotsman
'Irresponsible' cut to Scottish violence reduction unit revealed as knife crime in Edinburgh and Glasgow soars
Sign up to the daily Crime UK newsletter. All the latest crime news and trials from across the UK. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A budget cut to Scotland's national centre of expertise on violence has been branded 'dangerous and irresponsible' as ministers face growing calls for a crackdown on soaring levels of knife crime in the country's two biggest cities. The Scotsman can reveal the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit is facing a 3 per cent budget cut, with grant funding from the Scottish Government's Safer Communities pot meaning the centre's funding will fall this year by £35,500. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The funding blow was confirmed in response to a Freedom of Information request, as figures showed the rate of knife crime incidents has risen sharply in both Edinburgh and Glasgow. There are warnings over a budget cut for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit. | Adobe Crimes committed in Edinburgh in a public place with a knife surged by more than a quarter (29 per cent) over the past two years. The latest figures show 250 offences in 2024/25 - up from 203 in 2023/24 and 178 in 2022/23. During the same period, figures for possession have dropped in the Scottish capital, which police sources say reflects a fall in pro-active stop and search due to a lack of frontline resources. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In the past year, Police Scotland recovered 900 weapons from stop and search, with more than a fifth - over 200 - recovered from people aged 17 or under. Knife crime has also soared in in Glasgow year-on-year since 2022 - up 13 per cent from 446 in 2022 to 511 in 2024. Knife crime rates in Edinburgh and Glasgow are on the rise. | Adobe The Scottish Violence Reduction Unit received £1,170,500 for each of the past two financial years, but has been allocated just £1,135,000 for 2025/26. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay warned the budget cut for the pioneering unit would lead to more violence on Scotland's streets. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It is dangerously irresponsible for John Swinney's Government to cut funding for this critical anti-violence service at a time when youth violence is rising, and many young Scots are living in fear,' Mr Findlay said. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay delivering his speech at the Novotel in Jane Barlow/PA Wire 'SNP ministers have relentlessly undermined Scotland's justice system by eroding the principle of punishment as a deterrence in the twisted belief that criminals are victims. The inevitable consequence of this reckless SNP cut will be more violence on Scotland's streets.' The figures have been confirmed just days after the First Minster was quizzed by opposition leaders on what action the Scottish Government was taking to tackle youth violence following a spate of tragic incidents, one of which saw 16-year-old Kayden Moy killed. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Swinney said his Government was committed to a 'three-step approach' to tackling the crisis – early intervention, education and effective punishment. He defended the SNP's record on tackling crime, saying assaults with a knife had fallen since 2009 because of initiatives such as the 'world renowned' Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU). But police sources said the SVRU budget cut 'will have a significant impact on prevention at a time when it's badly needed'. According to the latest Police Scotland data, non-sexual crimes of violence recorded by the police fell by 2 per cent, from 71,900 in the year ending December 2023 to 70,637 in year ending December 2024. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, knife crimes figures in Scotland's major cities point to a stark increase. David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, warned that existing stop-and-search powers were insufficient to combat knife crime committed by young people. It is understood the force has written to the Government asking for an additional £1 million in funding to tackle violent crime 'hot-spots', including north Edinburgh. SVRU launched a prevention initiative in the north of the city last month, which involves mentors with experience of violent crime and gangs working with young people. The 3 per cent cut could put similar projects at risk, sources said. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Jimmy Paul, head of the SVRU, said: 'Scotland has seen dramatic reductions in violence in the last two decades, but we know every life lost to violence is a tragedy and we know there is still a lot of work to do. 'We know that key to preventing violence involving young people is effective early intervention and that is why, being faced with a cut to funding, we will do even more to pull resources across partners and organisations to target our work, seeking to create positive change in the lives of young people, their families and in communities. 'That being said, any additional investment could help fund doing more of what we know works - for example, it would cover the costs of a mentor in a school for a year or help develop new educational resources. 'But we are facing serious challenges. Crucial to tackling the challenges that lie ahead will be radical collaboration of all services - reducing violence isn't just the job of the police. We all have a role in this. Working with partners across Scotland and alongside communities is essential. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Young people have led the way in making Scotland a safer country and we must not put that progress at risk.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Funding for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit is a part of the Scottish Government's broader package to tackle violence, which we have funded by more than £6m over the past three years.
Scotsman
7 days ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Demand for police to have stop and search powers extended to halt youth knife crime 'epidemic'
Justice Secretary Angela Constance has branded the call for tougher measures to tackle knife crime being revived as 'misplaced'. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... SNP ministers have been urged to expand police stop and search powers to tackle Scotland's youth violence 'epidemic' as the Justice Secretary insisted her government will 'redouble our efforts' to end the crisis. The Scottish Conservatives have pointed to 13 alleged knife attacks on teenagers over the past two months, including two fatal incidents, and called on John Swinney to abandon what the opposition party branded a "weak and reckless" approach and take decisive action before more tragedies occur. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay delivering his speech at the Novotel in Jane Barlow/PA Wire The calls from Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay follow comments from David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, who said that existing stop and search powers are insufficient to combat knife crime. In the last year, Police Scotland has confiscated around 900 weapons through stop and search powers, including more than 200 items from people aged 17 or younger. Mr Findlay has claimed that the SNP's weakening of the justice system, with more serious crimes referred to the children's panel rather than being prosecuted in court, is failing victims. The Tories claim this so-called 'soft-touch' approach means that there are often no consequences for those who commit serious crimes, thereby removing any deterrent which is fuelling violence. During a heated exchange at last week's First Minister's Questions, John Swinney denied this was the case. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Findlay has claimed that even where cases are prosecuted, criminals aged under 25 are less likely to be jailed due to the Scottish Government's sentencing guidelines, which the Scottish Conservatives have called to be scrapped. He said that Mr Swinney needs to show some "common sense" and expand stop-and-search powers to give frontline officers the powers they need to protect the public. He said: "Decisive and prompt action must be taken to stop the growing epidemic of youth violence, especially involving knives. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "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. 'Tougher stop and search powers would help police to prevent violence, protect young people and keep the public safe. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'These powers are merited because this is a matter of life or death.' Mr Findlay added: '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.' SNP pledge to 'redouble' efforts Speaking yesterday, SNP Justice Secretary Angela Constance, hit back at calls for past measures to tackle violence. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Justice Secretary Angela Constance's remarks about building consensus on ways to improve the low conviction rate for rape are welcome (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell) | Getty Images She said: 'When we look at what has changed in the lives of young people, it's really important that we don't focus on the arguments of the past or approaches of the past that have not worked. 'Some of the rhetoric around discipline, around being tougher or we need a tougher justice system, I would suggest is misplaced. 'What families want is interventions that work. The earlier interventions made, the better.' Amid concerns over youth and community work being cut, Ms Constance pointed to austerity of public funding from Westminster and insisted the Scottish Government was 'focusing on the priorities of prevention and public protection'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad READ MORE: Scotland must urgently get a grip on growing problem of weapons in schools She also warned that it was important to acknowledge a change in behaviour in some young people. Ms Constance said: 'Despite the progress that has been made in the past 1 years or so to make Scotland safer, there is a change for some young people - the majority of young people are law-abiding - so we do need to redouble our efforts. 'I think the rise in violent crime amongst young people is complex. That means that there will be more than one solution. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We did begin to see changes around 2019/20. It is important that changes in behaviour in schools and in our communities is acknowledged - that we don't avoid that or try and bury that.' Labour MSP Pauline McNeill | Getty Images Scottish Labour's justice spokesperson, Pauline McNeill, said: 'We need urgent action to tackle the devastating rise in youth violence but it's clear the SNP is still in denial about the scale of this crisis and its driving causes. SNP accused of failure to take responsibility 'Angela Constance has refused to take responsibility for her government's role in this crisis and the devastating effects of the SNP's cuts to youth work services. 'Cuts to youth work, the drop in police officer numbers, the pressure on our justice system, the chaos in our schools and the long waits for CAMHS have all contributed to this problem. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We owe it to the next generation to deal with the youth violence crisis and keep young people safe – the SNP must acknowledge their mistakes and support these key services.' The legal framework for police to carry out stop and search in Scotland states the powers should be used where lawful, necessary and proportionate. 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.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire | PA Speaking at the Scottish Police Authority board meeting last week, Chief Constable of Police Scotland, Jo Farrell, said that 'reducing violence and preventing the harm it is causing continues to be an absolute priority' for the force. Mc Farrell stressed that stop and search was 'a really valuable policing tactic to remove weapons from pockets'. She added: 'To provide a sense of stop and search, in the last year we had around 40,000 recorded stop and search incidents and about one in four has a positive return, with over 900 weapons recovered as part of that. Of those 900 weapons, over 200 were recovered from people aged 17 or under.
Scottish Sun
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Calls for Scots cops to have tougher stop & search powers amid surge in child knife crime
Cops reported a 600 per cent rise in serious assaults committed by teenagers over the past five years BLADE SPREE Calls for Scots cops to have tougher stop & search powers amid surge in child knife crime SNP ministers were urged to give cops tougher powers to stop and search youths for deadly blades. The demand was made a week after a 16-year-old boy died after an alleged knife attack on a beach. 2 SNP ministers were urged to give cops tougher powers to stop and search youths for blades (STOCK IMAGE) Credit: Alamy And cops reported a 600 per cent rise in serious assaults committed by teenagers over the past five years. Scots Tories leader Russell Findlay said: 'Decisive action must be taken to stop this epidemic of youth violence, especially involving knives. 'Stop-and-search powers must be extended while a rethink is needed of the SNP's weak approach, which fails victims and fuels violence.' 'Tougher powers to stop and frisk would help police to prevent violence, protect young people and keep the public safe. The SNP need to act now to avoid more attacks and killings on our streets.' Tim Frew, from the charity YouthLink Scotland, told BBC's The Sunday Show that 'too many' youth work services have been cut in recent years. But Justice Secretary Angela Constance insisted the rise in violent crime among young Scots was a 'complex' issue. And she described calls for a tougher justice system to tackle it as 'misplaced'. She said: 'There's not one reason, there will be many. 'That means there will be more than one solution.' Ms Constance said youth work's contribution would be 'imperative'. Horror moment Love Island star Amber Gill's ex 'stabs tourist in Thai nightclub before fleeing' as manhunt launched But rivals accused her of failing to accept blame for her party slashing funding. Labour's Pauline McNeill hit out: 'Cuts to youth work, drop in police numbers, pressure on our justice system, chaos in our schools and long waits for child and adolescent mental health services have all contributed to this problem.' A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'Police do use stop and search. It is one tool to tackle violence alongside a range of other measures such as prevention and education.'
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
SNP minister 'dodges responsibility' over soaring youth crime as she dismisses calls for tougher discipline
Angela Constance is 'in denial' about the reality of crime in Scotland after dismissing calls for a tougher justice system as 'misplaced'. The SNP Justice Secretary was also accused of 'shamefully' passing the buck for rising youth violence, blaming councils, schools and Westminster instead of accepting blame herself. The Scottish Conservatives said it was typical of the 'total inaction' by the Nationalists. There has been a 600 per cent increase in serious assaults by teenagers and an almost 300 power cent rise in violence in schools over the past five years. The issue dominated First Minister's Questions last week, following the death of 16-year-old Kayden Moy, and the Tories said the SNP government's weak stance was 'costing lives' Tory leader Russell Findlay cited a 'reckless' justice system that failed to punish young offenders, a lack of discipline in schools and lenient sentencing rules for under-25s. But appearing on BBC Scotland's Sunday Show, Ms Constance was contemptuous of calls for 'proper discipline' and 'being tough' on tearaways instead of 'too soft'. She said: 'It's really important that we don't focus on the arguments of the past or approaches of the past that have not worked. There has been a 600 per cent increase in serious assaults by teenagers and an almost 300 power cent rise in violence in schools over the past five years 'Some of the rhetoric around discipline, around being tough, that we need a tougher justice system, I would suggest is misplaced. 'What families want is interventions that work, and the earlier the intervention the better.' Earlier on the show, YouthLink Scotland chief executive Tim Frew said it was 'very urgent' that youth services lost in public sector budget cuts were restored. He highlighted a 50 per cent reduction in council youth workers in just eight years. Pressed on whether there was a 'direct link' between service cuts and a rise in violent crime, Ms Constance said: 'The rise in violent crime amongst young people is complex. There's not one reason. There will be many, and that means there will be more than one solution. 'Let me be absolutely clear. The contribution that youth work currently makes in this country, and could make, will be imperative going forwards as a key part of the solution.' She said decisions on the size of Holyrood's budget 'rest elsewhere in Westminster' and 'all tiers of government make decisions around resources'. Exclusion of violent pupils 'does remain an option for schools', she said, but then added 'children do not learn and change if they are absent from schools'. Asked why ministers had withdrawn £11million of funding, she said she was 'very pleased' to be convening the second youth violence summit of the year next month. Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: 'Violence in Scotland's schools is soaring amid a 600 per cent rise in serious assaults by teens - all on the SNP's watch. 'The SNP government has left fewer police to enforce the law, little prospect of repercussions from their soft-touch policies, and no grassroots projects to help keep children on the right path. 'Ms Constance shamefully refused to take responsibility for the cuts her government has made to youth workers across Scotland. 'Instead of admitting the problem, she hid behind councils, schools and of course Westminster for being responsible. 'She did seem to be 'very pleased' to be holding a meeting about it - but this cannot be yet another SNP summit to hide their total inaction on this critical issue.' Scottish Labour's Pauline McNeil added: 'We need urgent action to tackle the devastating rise in youth violence but it's clear the SNP is still in denial about the scale of this crisis and its driving causes. 'Angela Constance has refused to take responsibility for her government's role in this crisis and the devastating effects of the SNP's cuts to youth work services. 'We owe it to the next generation to deal with the youth violence crisis and keep young people safe - the SNP must acknowledge their mistakes and support these key services.'
