The key of youth workers to combat the increase in violent crime

Youth workers are the key to tackling violent crime among young people, said Schotto Minister of Justice.

Angela Constance was asked in the Sunday show by BBC Scotland whether there was a “direct connection” between cuts for youth services and an increase in violence

But she said there were “many reasons” for the complex problem – with “more than one solution” for dealing with it.

The Minister of Justice's comments came after a number of cases of youth violence-a bit of the death of 16-year-old Kayden Moy on Irvine Beach.

Constance said the Scottish government has strengthened health, police and local budget budgets and focused on preventing youth violence.

“The contribution that youth work is currently doing in this country will be essential in the future. It is an essential part of the solution,” she said.

Last week, the first minister John Swinney was asked in Holyrood after a flood of incidents, including the death of Kayden Moy, to tackle the razor crime.

Two 17-year-old boys were charged because of his murder.

Kayden is the third teenager who was killed in 12 months after the death of Amen Teklay in Glasgow in March and Kory Mccrimmon, who was in May 2024.

When asked whether the authorities are “too soft” for young people, Constance said that it is important not to concentrate on the “approaches of the past”.

“When we look at what has changed in the life of young people, it is really important that we do not concentrate on the arguments of the past or the approaches of the past that have not worked,” she said.

“Some of the rhetoric about discipline that are hard that we need a harder judicial system, I would suggest that they are placed incorrectly.

“What families want are interventions that work, and the earlier the intervention is better.”

Charity Youthlink Scotland has been reducing the number of youth workers by 50%in the past eight years.

Chief Executive Tim Frew informed the Sunday exhibition that the increase in serious attacks was due to a lack of youth services.

He said: “Despite the best efforts by the youth work sector and many others are some of these support services – these youth clubs and activities – not in the band they were years ago.”

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

He told BBC Scotland News that a youth center had helped him to be involved in gang violence and to get into further training.

He said: “You only helped with the simplest things, as if I wanted to read a book, so they gave me books.

“As stupid as it sounds, it helps you because it shows you a wider horizon of what is in front of you.”

Scott visited the St. Paul youth forum in the city's Provanmill, which, however, worried that influence the services, have an impact on the next generation.

He said: “I think it has to do with a feeling of alienation, there is a sense of lack of community. A youth forum can lead to community centers.

“Ultimately, these things are what the risk behavior in young people can tackle because young people who feel alienated by society have no reason to contribute to society.”

Opposition parties have accused the government of not taking responsibility for the increase in youth criminal.

Pauline McNeil Pauline McNeil from Scottish Labor said that the SNP had to “recognize its mistakes” and “support key services”.

Liam Kerr, secretary of the Scottish conservative shadow justice, said that the Minister of Justice had “shameful” to take responsibility for cuts among youth workers.