What is Police Scotland doing about youth violence?

Police Scotland is using preventative, intelligence-led tactics to intervene early and address the complex causes of youth violence, including increased weapon seizures.

Why is youth violence increasing in Scotland?

Factors include increased weapon seizures from young people and the influence of social media organizing fights and exposing youth to violent content.

What is the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU)?

The SVRU is a praised initiative that treats violence as a public health problem, focusing on education, early intervention, and prevention.

Home / Crime and Justice / Scotland Tackles Youth Violence Surge

Scotland Tackles Youth Violence Surge

8 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Police report increased weapon seizures from young people.
Young children, aged 8-11, are increasingly involved in violence.
Social media trends are linked to youth violence organization.

Police Scotland is implementing preventative measures to address a worrying rise in violence among young people, following an increase in weapon seizures from this demographic. Superintendent Joanne McEwan of Police Scotland described the tactic as intelligence-led, proportionate, and legal, emphasizing the critical need for early intervention. The tragic instances of youth violence earlier this year underscore the importance of these efforts.

Historically, Scotland grappled with high levels of violence, but initiatives like the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU) treated the issue as a public health problem, leading to a significant reduction in homicides. However, current trends are concerning, with younger children, as young as 8 to 11, becoming involved.

Concerns are mounting over the influence of social media, which is being used to organize fights and expose young people to violent content. While overall violence has decreased, there's a strong emphasis on reinforcing violence reduction strategies and tackling the root causes to protect vulnerable youth.