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PE1947: Address Scotland's culture of youth violence

Petition Summary

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to address the disturbing culture of youth violence in Scotland.

Petitioner: Alex O’Kane

Status: Under consideration

Date published: 11 July 2022

Click here for the full petition.

SPICe briefing (162.8KB, pdf) (163KB, pdf) posted 01 August 2022

Notes from Committee visit to 6VT (84KB, pdf) posted 19 June 2023

Notes from Committee visit to LoveMilton (81KB, pdf) posted 19 June 2023

Committee Meetings

26 October 2022: The Committee agreed to engage with communities and families that have been directly affected by the issues raised in this petition. The Committee also agreed to write to the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit.

Official Report of Meeting 26 October 2022

28 June 2023: The Committee agreed to invite researchers, Police Scotland, the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit and No Knives, Better Lives to give evidence at a future meeting. It also agreed to delegate the final arrangements for this to the Convener.

Official Report of Meeting 28 June 2023

22 November 2023: The Committee took evidence from—

Dr Fern Gillon, Research Associate, University of Glasgow
Dr Susan Batchelor, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, University of Glasgow

The Committee agreed to consider the evidence heard at a future meeting.

Official Report of Meeting 22 November 2023

21 February 2024: The Committee took evidence from—

Emily Beever, Senior Development Officer, No Knives, Better Lives
Will Linden, Deputy Head of Unit and Head of Analysis, Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU)
Jonathan Watters, Community Policing Inspector, Police Scotland.

The Committee agreed to consider the evidence heard at a future meeting.

Official Report of Meeting 21 February 2024

06 March 2024: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Victims and Community Safety.

Official Report of Meeting 06 March 2024

11 December 2024: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Victims and Community Safety. The Committee also agreed to invite the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, the Minister for Victims and Community Safety, and the Lord Advocate to give evidence a future meeting.

Official Report of Meeting 11 December 2024

25 June 2025: The Committee took evidence from—

The Right Hon Dorothy Bain KC, Lord Advocate
Alistair Hogg, Head of Practice and Policy for the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration
Stephanie Ross, Principal Procurator Fiscal Depute in the Policy Unit the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

and then from—

Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs supported by Clare Collin, Violence Reduction Team Leader and Tom McNamara, Head of Youth Justice & Children’s Hearings.