17 hours ago
'Teens are carrying larger weapons', warns Glasgow police chief
Glasgow Chief superintendent Emma Croft described the behaviour as 'challenging' for police but said overall, youth violence figures are down.
The worrying trend comes after a number of alleged knife crime incidents involving young people.
Kayden Moy, 16, died after a disturbance on Irvine beach last month, and in a separate incident, Amen Teklay, 15, died in Maryhill in March after sustaining serious injuries.
Speaking at yesterday's Safe Glasgow Partnership meeting on crime statistics, Chief superintendent Croft said 'there is clearly a focus on youth related violence as a consequence of the incidents in Glasgow and Ayrshire over the last several months,' but she added that 'incidents of youth violence are still down over the five year average.'
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The Greater Glasgow Divisional Commander added: 'What we are seeing, however, is a change of posture – potentially intent – with youths carrying unfortunately larger weapons motivated by social media and are travelling across Scotland to gather.
'This is a challenging picture for police to map and prevent. Our national violence work is therefore focused on the sharing of information of trends and locations.
"The input of partners here is critical – in particular schools, educational and youth work and diversionary settings who my teams have been working with tirelessly.'
Chief Superintendent Croft said work continues with partners including the 'Common Ground Programme, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, youth workers and many others to target areas where we see incidents of youth and related violence and disorder at the weekends.'
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Last month, Police Scotland urged young people not to carry knives, following the death of Kayden Moy.
Explaining prevention work taking place, Partnership superintendent Ryan McMurdo said school engagement officers work in 39 schools in the Glasgow area delivering programmes including the No Knives Better Lives and the Pitchin' In Programme to reduce youth crime.
Other efforts include the Common Ground Youth Project in the city centre and the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers, which has over 100 people involved.
Figures presented to the Safe Glasgow Partnership showed overall violent crime has increased this year to date by 1.8 per cent compared to the previous year to date.
A total of 12,060 violent crimes were recorded this year to date, compared to 11,844 for the previous year to date in the Glasgow city area.
The meeting heard there is a reduction in serious assaults, homicides, attempted murders and robberies compared to the previous year to date.
There has been an increase in common assaults.
