Scottish Justice Secretary Angela Constance is facing fierce criticism following her dismissal of urgent calls for a stronger approach to tackling youth crime. Her comments, widely perceived as 'in denial', arise amid alarming reports of a staggering 600 per cent increase in serious assaults involving teenagers and a nearly 300 per cent rise in violence within schools over the past five years. This crisis has reached a boiling point, particularly following the tragic death of 16-year-old Kayden Moy, prompting the Scottish Conservatives to sharply criticise the ruling SNP government for its failure to act decisively, claiming its leniency is "costing lives."

During a recent appearance on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, Constance dismissed the push for tougher disciplinary measures as "misplaced," insisting on early interventions instead of punishment. However, many view this as a naive approach that ignores the severity of the ongoing crisis. Conservative leader Russell Findlay condemned the current justice system as "reckless," highlighting its inability to adequately address youth offending and asserting that the lack of discipline in schools is creating a fertile ground for further violence.

YouthLink Scotland's chief executive, Tim Frew, pointed out that cuts to youth services are exacerbating the issue. With council-provided youth workers decreasing by 50 per cent over the past eight years, the implications are dire. Despite acknowledging the complexity of youth violence, Constance’s insistence that solving the issue requires a multi-faceted approach falls flat for many critics, who argue that substantive funding cuts by her administration have played a significant role in this ongoing crisis, a direct consequence of SNP governance.

Scottish Labour’s Pauline McNeil has joined the chorus of dissent, calling for immediate, decisive action to tackle the 'devastating rise' in youth violence. “We owe it to the next generation to confront this crisis head-on and ensure the safety of our young people,” she urged, underscoring the pressing need for government support for youth services.

While overall crime rates in Scotland are reported to be at their lowest levels in nearly half a century, this does little to alleviate concerns about the specific rise in youth-related violence. In fact, figures from the current year reveal a troubling uptick in non-sexual violent crimes by 4 per cent. Indeed, the number of sexual crimes recorded has surged by 8 per cent in the last year alone, highlighting a stark reality that youth and sexual violence are on the rise, calling into question the effectiveness of the government's current policies.

Adding to the alarm, recent warnings from Police Scotland suggest that austerity measures could threaten effective policing, including potential job cuts and station closures. Critics contend that such measures allow serious offenders to escape accountability, particularly given current guidelines that minimize imprisonment for under-25s.

As the Scottish government gears up for its second youth violence summit of the year, skepticism looms large. The urgency of the crisis—amplified by harrowing personal tragedies—demands robust leadership and a fundamental reevaluation of how youth services and justice systems operate. The public is left hoping for a recalibrated strategy that prioritises effective intervention over the ineffective policies that have failed to protect Scotland's youth.

Source: Noah Wire Services