Youth workers 'key' to tackling rise in violent crime - Constance

Youth workers are key to tackling a rise in violent crime among young people, Scotland's justice secretary has said.

Angela Constance was asked on BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show, whether there was a "direct link" between cuts to youth services and a rise in violence

But she said there were "many reasons" for the complex problem - with "more than one solution" for dealing with it.

The justice secretary's comments came after a number of instances of youth violence - including the death of 16-year-old Kayden Moy on Irvine beach.

Constance said the Scottish government had increased health, policing and local government budgets and was focussed on preventing youth violence.

"The contribution that youth work currently makes in this country and could make will be imperative going forward. It's a key part of the solution," she said.

Last week, First Minister John Swinney was quizzed in Holyrood on measures to tackle knife crime after a spate of incidents, including the death of Kayden Moy.

Two 17-year-old boys have been charged with his murder.

Kayden is the third teenager to be killed in 12 months, following the deaths of Amen Teklay in Glasgow in March and Kory McCrimmon who was in May 2024.

Asked whether the authorities were being "too soft" on young people, Constance said it was important not to focus on the "approaches of the past".

"When we look at what has changed in the lives of young people, it's really important that we don't focus on the arguments of the past or the approaches of the past that have not worked," she said.

"Some of the rhetoric around discipline, around being tough, that we need a tougher justice system, I would suggest is misplaced.

"What families want is interventions that work, and the earlier the intervention the better."

Charity Youthlink Scotland reports a 50% reduction in the number of council youth workers in the last eight years.

Chief Executive Tim Frew told the Sunday Show that the rise in serious assaults was a result of a lack of youth services.

He said: "Despite the best efforts of the youth work sector and many others, some of those support services - those youth clubs and activities - are not at the volume they were years ago."

Someone who benefited from such services as a teenager was 21-year-old Scott McLaughlin, from Glasgow.

He told BBC Scotland News that a youth centre helped him avoid being caught up in gang violence and move into further education.

He said: "They helped with even just the simplest things, like I wanted to read a book so they gave me books.

"As daft as that sounds, it helps you because it shows you a broader horizon from what is in front of you."

Scott attended St Paul's youth forum in the city's Provanmill, but worries that cuts to services are having an impact of the next generation.

He said: "I believe it's to do with a sense of alienation, there's a sense of lack of community. A youth forum can provide that, community centres can provide that.

"These things are ultimately what can tackle risk-taking behaviour in young people because young people who feel alienated from society have no reason to contribute to society."

Opposition parties have accused the government of failing to take responsibility for the rise in youth crime.

Scottish Labour's justice spokesperson Pauline McNeil said the SNP must "acknowledge their mistakes" and "support key services".

Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr said the justice secretary had "shamefully" refused to take responsibility for cuts to youth workers.