To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports regarding the number of young people aged 11 to 14 who are involved in violent crime. (S6F-03394)

The Government is concerned at any increase in violent behaviour involving young people, particularly after so many years of decline. Since 2006-07, there has been a 74 per cent reduction in the number of children who are referred to the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration on offence grounds. More generally, for adults, non-sexual violent crime has fallen by 58 per cent since 2008-09, according to the most recent Scottish crime and justice survey.

Our violence prevention framework is delivering a number of key actions for young people, including the recent quit fighting for likes campaign, which aims to prevent the filming and sharing of violent incidents on social media.

Police Scotland data indicates that almost 14,000 violent crimes were committed by children in 2023-24, but, worryingly, there is a sharp rise in the number of children in the 11 to 14 age group being involved or armed with weapons such as knives, blunt objects and bottles. Knives were the most common weapon that was used or present. Concerningly, the chief constable told the Criminal Justice Committee last week that

“the number of assaults on officers by under-18s is on the increase.”—[Official Report, Criminal Justice Committee, 11 September 2024; c 34.]

Does the First Minister acknowledge that cuts to youth services could have made the problem worse?

YouthLink Scotland and other organisations have criticised the lack of data available. Given the severity of the crimes, what exactly is the Government doing to engage with that age group? On the face of it, it does not appear that the Government is doing much at all.

The Government is taking a number of steps. In the past two years, we have invested more than £4 million to implement the actions that are set out in the violence prevention framework.

We work with a range of partners, including YouthLink Scotland, which Pauline McNeill referred to and which delivers our national No Knives, Better Lives programme. We also work with the Scottish violence reduction unit, which has a formidable track record on tackling knife crime and violent crime, and Medics Against Violence.

I do not say any of that to suggest in any way that there is not a serious issue that has to be confronted. The Government can take a range of measures and we can work with partners.

Over the summer, I met a brave young person who has been very much involved in the Daily Record our kids, our future campaign. I warmly commend that young person and the Daily Record for the work that they have brought forward. In that conversation, I committed to drawing together representatives of all political parties to reflect on what more we could do to tackle the issue. That will be taken forward. Knowing the deep interest that Pauline McNeill has in the subject, I would welcome her participation in that cross-party summit.

We move to constituency and general supplementary questions.