Latest news with #ScottishViolenceReductionUnit
STV News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- STV News
John Swinney to host summit on reducing youth violence
First Minister John Swinney will host a summit on reducing youth violence across Scotland in a bid to prevent knife crime. The Scottish Government pledged that funding for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit will rise by 7% to £1.217m. The money comes in the wake of the deaths of teenagers Amen Teklay, 15, and Kayden Moy, 16, who both died this year after allegedly being stabbed. Three teenage boys, aged 14, 15, and 16 years old have been arrested and charged in connection with the death of Amen Teklay, an Eritrean refugee, in Glasgow on March 5. PA Media People attend a vigil for Eritrean refugee Amen Teklay, 15, who died from fatal injuries in March (Mike Boyd/PA Wire). In recent weeks, three teenage boys – a pair aged 17, and a 14-year-old – have appeared in court charged with the murder of Kayden Moy who was attacked on Irvine Beach, North Ayrshire, on May 17 and died in hospital. Later this month, a march against knife crime, Parents Against Knives, will take place in Glasgow organised by the family of Kory McCrimmon, 16, who died after he was stabbed in a park in Glasgow's east end on May 21 2024. Police Scotland said that the total number of serious assaults by 11 to 18-year-olds fell 27% between 2019/20 and 2024/25 from 428 to 313, according to the Scottish Government. An additional £82,000 funding for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit was announced this week, and Medics Against Violence also received increased funding of up to £345,000 while a further £156,000 has been awarded to the Mentors in Violence Prevention programme. The summit on Thursday will include the Justice and Education secretaries, Ministers for Children and for Victims and Community Safety, cross-party MSPs, youth workers and community programmes. It follows discussions led by Mr Swinney to hear young people and families' experiences and ideas on possible solutions, and will focus on education and community engagement with young people and possible strategies preventing them from turning to anti-social behaviour or carrying a weapon. Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: 'Scotland remains a safe place to live. 'But more needs to be done to change the attitudes and behaviours of some who are at risk of violence, or young people considering carrying a weapon. 'There is no place for violence in Scotland and anyone who commits a crime will face the consequences. 'Our work remains focused on ensuring our prevention and punishment measures respond to the changing behaviours of young people. This includes ensuring good school and community engagement with young people, appropriate police powers and tackling the root causes of violence. 'At this meeting we want to hear the views of the youth work and third sector representatives on what more, or different, can be done, within the current financial climate, to help address this issue. 'The role of youth work and grassroots community intervention is key. 'We all must work together to help young people feel safe and realise that carrying a knife is never the answer.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
10 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland's knife crime targeted at new summit hosted by FM
The money comes in the wake of the deaths of teenagers Amen Teklay, 15, and Kayden Moy, 16, who both died this year after allegedly being stabbed. Three teenage boys, aged 14, 15, and 16 years old have been arrested and charged in connection with the death of Amen Teklay, an Eritrean refugee, in Glasgow on March 5. In recent weeks, three teenage boys – a pair aged 17, and a 14-year-old – have appeared in court charged with the murder of Kayden Moy who was attacked on Irvine Beach, North Ayrshire, on May 17 and died in hospital. READ MORE: Dozens of children caught with knives across Scotland Swinney criticised over surge in youth violence in Scotland Later this month, a march against knife crime, Parents Against Knives, will take place in Glasgow organised by the family of Kory McCrimmon, 16, who died after he was stabbed in a park in Glasgow's east end on May 21 2024. Police Scotland said that the total number of serious assaults by 11 to 18-year-olds fell 27% between 2019/20 and 2024/25 from 428 to 313, according to the Scottish Government. An additional £82,000 funding for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit was announced this week, and Medics Against Violence also received increased funding of up to £345,000 while a further £156,000 has been awarded to the Mentors in Violence Prevention programme. The summit on Thursday will include the Justice and Education secretaries, Ministers for Children and for Victims and Community Safety, cross-party MSPs, youth workers and community programmes. It follows discussions led by Mr Swinney to hear young people and families' experiences and ideas on possible solutions, and will focus on education and community engagement with young people and possible strategies preventing them from turning to anti-social behaviour or carrying a weapon. Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: 'Scotland remains a safe place to live. 'But more needs to be done to change the attitudes and behaviours of some who are at risk of violence, or young people considering carrying a weapon. 'There is no place for violence in Scotland and anyone who commits a crime will face the consequences. 'Our work remains focused on ensuring our prevention and punishment measures respond to the changing behaviours of young people. This includes ensuring good school and community engagement with young people, appropriate police powers and tackling the root causes of violence. 'At this meeting we want to hear the views of the youth work and third sector representatives on what more, or different, can be done, within the current financial climate, to help address this issue. 'The role of youth work and grassroots community intervention is key. 'We all must work together to help young people feel safe and realise that carrying a knife is never the answer.'
The National
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
John Swinney to host summit on tackling youth violence
The Scottish Government also pledged that funding for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit will rise by 7% to £1.217 million. The money comes in the wake of the deaths of teenagers Amen Teklay, 15, and Kayden Moy, 16, who both died this year after allegedly being stabbed. READ MORE: Several Glasgow city centre roads closed amid ongoing incident Three teenage boys, aged 14, 15, and 16 years old have been arrested and charged in connection with the death of Amen Teklay, an Eritrean refugee, in Glasgow on March 5. In recent weeks, three teenage boys – a pair aged 17, and a 14-year-old – have appeared in court charged with the murder of Kayden Moy who was attacked on Irvine Beach, North Ayrshire, on May 17 and died in hospital. Later this month, a march against knife crime, Parents Against Knives, will take place in Glasgow organised by the family of Kory McCrimmon, 16, who died after he was stabbed in a park in Glasgow's east end on May 21, 2024. Police Scotland said that the total number of serious assaults by 11 to 18-year-olds fell 27% between 2019/20 and 2024/25 from 428 to 313, according to the Scottish Government. An additional £82,000 in funding for the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit was announced this week, and Medics Against Violence also received increased funding of up to £345,000 while a further £156,000 has been awarded to the Mentors in Violence Prevention programme. The summit on Thursday will include the justice and education ministers, as well as ministers for children and for victims and community safety, cross-party MSPs, youth workers and community programmes. It follows discussions led by Swinney to hear young people and families' experiences and ideas on possible solutions, and will focus on education and community engagement with young people and possible strategies preventing them from turning to anti-social behaviour or carrying a weapon. Justice Secretary Angela Constance (Image: PA) Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: 'Scotland remains a safe place to live. 'But more needs to be done to change the attitudes and behaviours of some who are at risk of violence, or young people considering carrying a weapon. 'There is no place for violence in Scotland and anyone who commits a crime will face the consequences. READ MORE: UK won't recognise Palestine at UN conference despite 'discussions', reports say 'Our work remains focused on ensuring our prevention and punishment measures respond to the changing behaviours of young people. This includes ensuring good school and community engagement with young people, appropriate police powers and tackling the root causes of violence. 'At this meeting, we want to hear the views of the youth work and third-sector representatives on what more, or different, can be done, within the current financial climate, to help address this issue. 'The role of youth work and grassroots community intervention is key. 'We all must work together to help young people feel safe and realise that carrying a knife is never the answer.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Teenager charged over alleged murder bid on boy, 15
A teenager has been charged over the alleged attempted murder of another boy in Glasgow. The 15-year-old was found seriously injured on Denbeck Street in Shettleston at about 22:30 last Thursday. He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for treatment and has since been discharged. Police said a boy, 15, had been charged over the incident and is due to appear in court later. Inquiries into the incident are ongoing. It comes after a spate of violence involving young people across the central belt in recent months. Amen Teklay, 15, died following an alleged attack in Glasgow's Maryhill in March. Three teenagers, aged 14, 15 and 16 have been charged over his death. Kayden Moy, 16, died following a large disturbance on Irvine Beach in May. Three teenagers, aged between 14 and 17, have been charged in connection with his death. A 16-year-old boy was also charged with attempted murder over the alleged stabbing of a 17-year-old on Portobello Beach in Edinburgh days before. Justice minister Angela Constance described recent events as a "youth violence epidemic" after announcing an increase in funding for a centre aimed at tackling crime. The Scottish Violence Reduction Unit will receive a 7% funding increase to about £1.2m in an effort to address the underlying caused of violence. Constance said the Scottish government's approach to youth violence was focused on education, adding "effective punishment for offences, appropriate police powers and sustained school and community engagement with young people" were also in place. She added: "We have made it quite clear that no-one should every carry any weapon including knives at any time, anywhere."
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Teenager charged over alleged murder bid on boy, 15, in Shettleston
A teenager has been charged over the alleged attempted murder of another boy in 15-year-old was found seriously injured on Denbeck Street in Shettleston at about 22:30 last was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for treatment and has since been said a boy, 15, had been charged over the incident and is due to appear in court later. Inquiries into the incident are ongoing. It comes after a spate of violence involving young people across the central belt in recent Teklay, 15, died following an alleged attack in Glasgow's Maryhill in teenagers, aged 14, 15 and 16 have been charged over his Moy, 16, died following a large disturbance on Irvine Beach in teenagers, aged between 14 and 17, have been charged in connection with his death.A 16-year-old boy was also charged with attempted murder over the alleged stabbing of a 17-year-old on Portobello Beach in Edinburgh days before. 'Youth violence epidemic' Justice minister Angela Constance described recent events as a "youth violence epidemic" after announcing an increase in funding for a centre aimed at tackling Scottish Violence Reduction Unit will receive a 7% funding increase to about £1.2m in an effort to address the underlying caused of said the Scottish government's approach to youth violence was focused on education, adding "effective punishment for offences, appropriate police powers and sustained school and community engagement with young people" were also in added: "We have made it quite clear that no-one should every carry any weapon including knives at any time, anywhere."
