PRESS RELEASE

December 21st, 2010

Knife funding fear

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil has called on the Scottish Government to protect communities from knife crime and anti-social behaviour.

Local police have made significant progress in tackling knife crime and anti-social behaviour through the Inverclyde Initiative and No Knives Better Lives, cutting anti-social behaviour calls to the police by half and reducing knife crime.

But this progress is being undermined by cuts from the Scottish Government that have put these projects in doubt.

In the Scottish Parliament, Community Safety minister Fergus Ewing admitted for the first time that cuts are necessary and difficult decisions to make.

Mr McNeil said: "The safety of our streets cannot be compromised by the cuts from the SNP Government in Edinburgh.

"We have made significant progress in tackling the anti-social behaviour and knife crime that blights our communities and we have to ensure we sustain that momentum.

"But all that good work could be lost if these projects are cut. This is not a cheap option and can't be treated like one."

ENDS

Duncan McNeil: There has certainly been good progress on partnership working in my constituency, with the Inverclyde initiative, which the minister will know well. There has been significant investment in that initiative, which has reduced by 50 per cent calls to the police about antisocial behaviour. However, we should not be complacent—I know that the minister is not—about there being fewer calls to the police; there are still 800 a month about antisocial behaviour. Does the minister share my concern and that of the sheriff, police and other agencies that that option is not a cheap option and that cuts in investment and the money that is available to the Inverclyde initiative will mean that the gains that we have made will be lost in future years?

Fergus Ewing: I certainly agree that progress has been made in Inverclyde, as it has been throughout Scotland. For example, according to official Strathclyde statistics, knife carrying in Inverclyde reduced by 35 per cent from June 2009 to October 2010, and the handling of offensive weapons in Scotland has been reduced by 30 per cent. I mention that because I am aware of the close interest that Mr McNeil rightly takes in those issues—I think that all members are aware of his close interest in them.
As he invited me to respond to his question, I should say that cuts have had to be made because of the package with which the Westminster Government presented us. There are deep cuts and difficult decisions to make, which is why I hope that Duncan McNeil will support our excellent budget proposals, which Mr Swinney has so prudently brought forward.