Latest news with #VictimSupportScotland
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Kory McCrimmon's family say teen's life 'will not be in vain' amid plans to march against knife crime
Kory McCrimmon, 16, died after he was found seriously injured at Greenfield Park in the east end of Glasgow on May 31 last year. The family of tragic Kory McCrimmon have pledged that his life "will not be in vain", as they rallied support for a peaceful march against knife crime. 16-year-old Kory died after he was found seriously injured at Greenfield Park in the east end of Glasgow on May 31 last year. A 14-year-old boy was last month sentenced to five years detention after admitting culpable homicide. Relatives are urging the public to join the Parents Against Knives walk in Glasgow later this month. The march comes in the wake of the deaths of teenagers Amen Teklay, 15, and Kayden Moy, 16, in separate blade incidents in recent weeks. The tragedies have taken place amid the Record's Our Kids ... Our Future campaign, which was launched two years ago in response to a youth violence epidemic. As part of the campaign, we have been demanding the Scottish Government to invest in young people so they can be mentored and guided in every community. In a statement issued through Victim Support Scotland, Kory's family said: "Kory McCrimmon's young life was a brushstroke in time, but we his family wish for his death to make a difference: Kory's life will not be in vain. "Our aim here is to continue highlighting the increase in deaths and danger by knife and violent crime. Our sons and daughters are more than statistics, they deserve better. "Kory's parents are very clear: if we can prevent at least one more family going through this life shattering agony, we have gone a long way in our mission, but let's go further. "We walk in Kory's name, but we stand for all those lives lost or maimed to knife violence: too much, too many. No more. "Come join our walk and lend your hearts and voices to making our streets, our young people and our lives safer." Two boys aged 14 and 16 have appeared in court charged with murder following the death of 15-year-old Amen in the Maryhill area of Glasgow on March 5. Kayden, 16, was found seriously injured on Irvine beach in North Ayrshire after police were called to the area at about 6.45pm on May 17. A 14-year-old boy and two 17-year-old boys have appeared in court charged with murder following his death. The Parents Against Knives march will set off from Rangers' Ibrox stadium at 1pm on June 22 and those taking part will walk to Celtic Park in the east end. Kate Wallace, chief executive of Victim Support Scotland, said: "Too many lives are being devastated by knife crime in Scotland. "Behind every statistic, hundreds of lives are irreversibly impacted with tragic consequences for everyone involved; family, friends, siblings, school mates, and the wider communities in which we all live. "We support the Parents Against Knives walk, organised entirely by the McCrimmon family in memory of their son Kory, which will undoubtedly help draw attention to this growing crisis. "These are complex and sensitive situations which require a multi-agency response from the Scottish Government, victim support organisations, police, social work, youth work and others to work together to tackle knife crime and the devastation it causes. People across Scotland deserve to feel safe in their own communities."
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Family of boy killed in stabbing plan march against knife crime
The family of a teenage boy who died after he was stabbed have said they want his death to make a difference as they plan a march to raise awareness about knife crime. Kory McCrimmon's family said his life 'will not be in vain' as they urged people to join the Parents Against Knives walk later this month. The 16-year-old died after he was found seriously injured in Greenfield Park in the east end of Glasgow on May 31 last year. A 14-year-old was last month sentenced to five years detention after admitting culpable homicide. The march comes in the wake of the deaths of teenagers Amen Teklay and Kayden Moy in separate incidents in recent weeks. READ MORE: Parents Against Knives walk rescheduled in Glasgow Dozens of children caught with knives across Scotland Majority of young people sceptical of national approach to knife crime – poll In a statement issued through Victim Support Scotland, Kory's family said: 'Kory McCrimmon's young life was a brushstroke in time, but we his family wish for his death to make a difference: Kory's life will not be in vain. 'Our aim here is to continue highlighting the increase in deaths and danger by knife and violent crime. Our sons and daughters are more than statistics, they deserve better. 'Kory's parents are very clear: if we can prevent at least one more family going through this life shattering agony, we have gone a long way in our mission, but let's go further. 'We walk in Kory's name, but we stand for all those lives lost or maimed to knife violence: too much, too many. No more. 'Come join our walk and lend your hearts and voices to making our streets, our young people and our lives safer.' Two boys aged 14 and 16 have appeared in court charged with murder following the death of 15-year-old Amen in the Maryhill area of Glasgow on March 5. Kayden, 16, was found seriously injured on Irvine beach in North Ayrshire after police were called to the area at about 6.45pm on May 17. A 14-year-old boy and two 17-year-old boys have appeared in court charged with murder following his death. The Parents Against Knives march will set off from Rangers' Ibrox stadium at 1pm on June 22 and those taking part will walk to Celtic Park in the east end. Kate Wallace, chief executive of Victim Support Scotland, said: 'Too many lives are being devastated by knife crime in Scotland. 'Behind every statistic, hundreds of lives are irreversibly impacted with tragic consequences for everyone involved; family, friends, siblings, school mates, and the wider communities in which we all live. 'We support the Parents Against Knives walk, organised entirely by the McCrimmon family in memory of their son Kory, which will undoubtedly help draw attention to this growing crisis. 'These are complex and sensitive situations which require a multi-agency response from the Scottish Government, victim support organisations, police, social work, youth work and others to work together to tackle knife crime and the devastation it causes. People across Scotland deserve to feel safe in their own communities.' The Scottish Government and Police Scotland have been approached for comment.
Glasgow Times
30-05-2025
- Glasgow Times
42 Glasgow new volunteers join Victim Support Scotland
A total of 42 new volunteers in Glasgow have applied to join Victim Support Scotland (VSS) following a recent recruitment appeal. The response was part of a wider campaign across the country, which saw hundreds express interest in volunteering to help individuals and families impacted by crime. Read more: Glasgow team complete Edinburgh Marathon for 'important' cause It comes as Volunteers' Week begins, running from June 2 to 8. James Whyte, head of volunteering at VSS, said: "We are thrilled to see this level of enthusiasm and interest in our volunteering opportunities across Scotland. "Our volunteers do such vital work for people affected by crime, and to see more people willing to contribute their time and skills to supporting victims and witnesses is amazing." VSS is an independent charity offering emotional and practical support to people affected by crime. Read more: Glasgow and Lanarkshire groups to perform for National Theatre's 30th anniversary Its volunteers provide trauma-informed assistance in courts, including Glasgow's High Court and Sheriff Court, as well as through in-person services and remote options like helplines and webchat. James said: "Thank you to everyone who has registered to volunteer. "And if anyone else is keen to get involved, we welcome more applications from people in Glasgow." "If you are compassionate, resilient and a great listener, and can commit to a minimum of four hours a week, please visit our website to apply."
BBC News
17-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Early release of hundreds of prisoners to begin in Scotland
The first of up to 390 prisoners are being released early in the latest attempt to ease overcrowding in Scotland's legislation was passed last year which allows eligible inmates sentenced to less than four years to be freed after 40% of their term, rather than 50%.They will be released in three tranches over a six-week period, starting on Tuesday. Prisoners serving sentences for domestic abuse or sexual offences are Secretary Angela Constance said the prison population was "too high". "What we can't have is overcrowded prisons because that is not in the interests of prisoners, staff and ultimately the community, because that means we are not rehabilitating people," Constance the end of last week, there were 8,344 inmates in Scotland's prisons – above the target operating capacity of 8, summer 477 prisoners were released early in an emergency attempt to ease 61 ended up back in custody before their original planned release date, according to SPS data, and within two months the overall prison population had again risen above the level at which the releases began. More than 1,700 prisoners were released early in England and Wales last autumn as part of a similar attempt by the UK government to ease overcrowding. Release 'traumatising' for victims The charity Victim Support Scotland (VSS) and the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) have jointly urged victims of crime to sign up for a scheme to be notified if they will be affected by a prisoner organisations say only a small percentage of victims have joined, and VSS is calling for a more proactive approach than the current system which relies on victims to sign Wallace, chief executive of VSS, said some victims were "worried for their own and their family's safety when someone's being released from prison."Early releases had also raised anxiety amongst victims of older crimes, she said, sometimes causing renewed trauma. Lynn Burns' son Sam Johnston was 22 when he was stabbed to death at a house party in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, in McCulloch was convicted of Mr Johnston's murder and sentenced to 13 years and five months in jail. His co-accused Allan Carey was convicted of culpable homicide and jailed for three Burns said she only found out that Carey had been released early after he arrived back in their home town."As a victim," she said, "all we want is to feel safe in our communities."Carey's release was "completely traumatising," she explained, adding those feelings had resurfaced on hearing about the latest releases. 'Pressure cooker' Victorian jail The notorious Barlinnie prison in Glasgow is at the forefront of overcrowding Victorian jail, which opened in the 1880s, is now at 140% capacity with nearly 1,400 prisoners when it was designed for just governor, Michael Stoney, has even admitted he would "struggle" to cope as an inmate described Scotland's largest jail as a "pressure cooker" and said the new early release laws were necessary for staff and inmates although he accepted that some of those released early would "inevitably return" as part of a cycle of re-offending."In this prison we do the best we can. We have a real focus on those that are getting released under this scheme," he said."You nudge people forward in terms of life development," said Mr Stoney. A controversial replacement for Barlinnie, HMP Glasgow, is being built at a cost of almost £1bn and due to open in 2028. Prisoners 'warehoused' Former prisoner Jordan Robertson is building a new life as an artist after a series of short-term sentences for gang-related knows well the impact of overcrowding."I've seen the deterioration of the system, because from the first time I was in to the last time I've seen it drastically get worse," he told BBC Scotland News."You're seeing people basically get warehoused because the courts can't deal with the demand." Mr Robertson described the early release scheme as a "a very short term measure" to solve overcrowding rather than tackle said it was a "quick fix" and rehabilitation was the "long game". Critics of the early release scheme, on both the left and right of politics, say it is an indictment of the Scottish government's approach to criminal Scottish Conservatives' justice spokesman Liam Kerr said overcrowding was "a crisis entirely of the SNP's own making," pointing to their "catastrophic failure to build new prisons on time and on budget".Justice reform campaigners are also is now more than 16 years since the report of the Scottish Prisons Commission, chaired by former Labour first minister Henry McLeish, urged a fresh argued that while "Scotland imprisons more of its people than many other places in Europe," high levels of incarceration had done little to tackle "real problems with violence, alcohol and drugs". Ms Burns, whose son was murdered, now helps other victims going through the justice system and she agrees fundamental change is the one hand, she said, 40% of a sentence might not be enough time to rehabilitate a prisoner. On the other, some prisoners were serving prison terms who should have been sentenced to said some people should be in prison for the safety of the public, but there were other examples in the wider community where more could be done to rehabilitate those who had committed crimes. Ms Burns continued: "How we punish and rehabilitate people should be an issue, and how we care for victims should be as big a priority. And I don't believe it always is."What we've been doing is not working."
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Yahoo
Victims being ignored by early release, says charity
Tackling prison overcrowding by the early release of inmates is being put ahead of victims' and public safety, a charity has said. Up to 390 prisoners sentenced to less than four years in jail are to be released after serving 40% of their sentence, rather than 50%, under the latest move from the Scottish government to reduce inmate numbers. They will be released in three tranches over a six-week period, starting on 18 February, with prisoners serving sentences for domestic abuse or sexual offences excluded. Victim Support Scotland (VSS) warned early release programmes had "raised anxiety among victims generally" and could erode trust in the justice system. Why are there so many people in Scotland's jails? Prison boss: I'd struggle to survive my own jail "We're seeing a situation where resources are taking priority over victim and public safety, it's not a position we are supportive of at all," VSS chief executive Kate Wallace said. "The big concern is that it erodes trust in the criminal justice system as a whole and the problem with that is it can put victims off from reporting in the future. "They've told us they feel de-prioritised in all these conversations and their safety is not a priority over prison officers and others due to the overcrowding crisis in prisons. "We want people to come forward and report crime but these policy decisions and the way they've been done don't help with that." According to the latest figures, there were 8,332 in Scotland's prisons – above the target operating capacity of 8,007. Last summer 477 prisoners were released early to ease overcrowding, with 61 of them later returned to custody. Linda Pollock, deputy chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), said staff were focusing on rehabilitation work with prisoners whose release was imminent. She conceded that prison overcrowding had limited the amount of time available for such work but added: "We are prioritising those who are going to be released. "We saw in the release last summer a small number of people have reoffended but we have worked with partners and learned from that," she added. The Scottish government said victims who have already signed up to the Victim Notification Scheme will be told automatically by SPS if there is a change to the date of release of the prisoner in their case. Victim Support Scotland said the onus is currently on victims to sign up to the scheme and it wants to see a more "proactive" system. Ms Wallace said: "Often victims are asked quite early on in the justice process if they want to sign up to the notification scheme. There's no follow up if they change their mind. "Many won't remember if they signed up to the scheme or not so if you're not sure contact either SPS or VSS or Children First and we can ask on your behalf. "The last thing victims want is to bump into the person who committed a crime against them without anticipating that. It causes huge anxiety and trauma. "They want to know when that person is being released and if there are conditions on that release in advance so they can plan for their own safety and get support." A Scottish government spokesperson said: "In line with trends seen elsewhere in the UK, Scotland's prison population has significantly grown in recent years and, consequently, this rise has impacted prisons and the wider justice system. "We will continue to work closely with victim support organisations to ensure that accessible information is available to victims on the change to the release point for short-term prisoners." Our rapists should admit guilt before they get parole Father's anger at 'zero' action on Michelle's Law Early release for long-term prisoners is horrifying, says victim
