Opposing the Proposed Reduction in Funding for the No Knives, Better Lives Programme

That the Parliament notes with concern reports that knife crime has reached its highest level in eight years; recognises what it sees as growing public concern regarding knife crime, particularly after recent high-profile incidents involving young people; notes the work of the No Knives, Better Lives programme, which has reached over 100,000 young people across Scotland, including in the West Scotland Region, and has been credited with an 85% reduction in the number of young people convicted of handling an offensive weapon since 2008-09; expresses its concern that the No Knives, Better Lives programme has been subject to a reported 32% reduction in its funding in the 2026-27 financial year; understands that this is on top of a previously reported real-terms reduction of 10% in funding for the programme since 2022-23, and notes the calls for the Scottish Government to increase funding for the No Knives, Better Lives programme, in light of its previous success in helping to reduce knife crime among young people across Scotland.