Fury at knife crime rise since Parly summit

RESIDENTS in the first place to back Save Our Streets are furious - because while MSPs have done NOTHING , they have seen TWELVE stabbings in five months.

Glasgow's tough Easterhouse area was the first stop on the Save Our Streets roadshow last June.

Locals followed our campaign right through to the Scots Parly Holyrood knife summit in January.

Police, community workers and fed-up locals are working to fight knife crime - and they are frustrated that politicians have taken no action.

They say if MSPs had acted on our demand to jail thugs carrying knives, these attacks may not have happened.

And as we relaunch our roadshows to step up pressure, they are going back to Holyrood on Wednesday to show a shock film of local youths and street crime.

Furious community worker Richard McShane said last night: "The knife crime summit was a joke, a talking shop for MSPs to score points.

"It seems like every other week we hear of a stabbing. I've counted 12 since January.

"The good, decent people of Easterhouse are working hard to improve things but it feels like the situation is spiralling out of control while the politicians sit back and do nothing.

"I would love some of them to come here on a weekend night.

"Maybe then they'd stop talking and start taking some real action to help communities."

Former pub landlord Richard, 54, revealed armed neds roam around picking fights.

He said: "Last month a 16- year-old was stabbed, he was left in a coma and could have permanent brain damage.

"Another boy was found stabbed in the gutter two months ago, his life was saved by police officers.

"Just the other day, I saw three children squaring up to a man in his 30s - he backed down.

"We must lock up those caught with knives and stop this situation where a guy can stab someone but be granted bail.

"I want backing for a community opportunity centre, to give us a place to do meaningful work with teens."

Richard hopes to push MSPs into action with the film, Estate Of Mind. In it, teens admit they drink and fight because there is nothing else to do.

His group will be joined by David Sye - son of crooner Frankie Vaughan, who famously donated cash for a youth club, which is now demolished.

London-based David, 48, is in the film teaching Easterhouse lads Yogabeats, an exercise he uses with gangs across the world.

Richard said: "They think it's ridiculous at first, but get into it.

"I'm not saying yoga can solve all our problems but if we come together as a community, backed by politicians, we can maybe turn the tide."

THIS year's roadshows will kick off in Kilmarnock on June 30 - and we'll be coming to a town near YOU.

It's your chance to tell people in power what must be done to tackle crime on our streets.

Former Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson will be on the panel at Kilmarnock's Buchanan Centre. We will publish details of upcoming roadshows every week.

Admission is free but you need a ticket - just email your details to scottish.news@notw.co.uk.

This article has 1 comment