'Powerful event'educates pupils about knife crime

School pupils in Perth and Kinross have been learning about the consequences of knife crime from prisoners and charities.

- STAFF REPORTER

Perth became the first city in Scotland to host the Knife Angel at the end of 2024 and since then Perth and Kinross Council has been working with partner agencies including the Scottish Prison Service, charity Aid and Abet and Police Scotland to raise awareness of the issues around knife crime.

On Wednesday 11 June, Perth Grammar School became the latest venue to host a workshop following successful events in Bertha Park High School and St John's Academy in May.

As well as presentations from Perth and Kinross Council's Community Justice Team and Aid and Abet, staff and prisoners from HMP Perth and HMYOI Polmont have also participated by sharing videos and recordings for use in the sessions, detailing their own personal experiences of knife crime and its consequences.

Councillor Tom McEwan, convener of Perth and Kinross Council's Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee, said: "Although there has been an overall reduction in knife crime over the past 15 years, recent tragedies have shown this is not a problem that has gone away.

"It is important that young people realise that there are very real consequences for using a knife, or other blade.