The number of teenagers apprehended by police for carrying knives has risen by 59% in Scotland, with 145 instances recorded in 2025/26 involving individuals under 18, including children as young as 11. This surge, compared to 91 cases in 2024, has drawn criticism from political figures who argue it reflects a lenient justice approach by the Scottish National Party (SNP).
Analysis of Police Scotland data, published by 1919 magazine, indicates that these positive searches for knives involved 127 boys and 18 girls. Among those found with blades were two 11-year-old boys in Glasgow and Irvine, and 12-year-old boys in Glasgow and the Isle of Bute.
Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Stephen Kerr stated that these figures demonstrate the failure in the SNP's justice agenda, asserting that too many young people believe they can carry knives without facing severe consequences. He attributed the rise to "reckless under-25 sentencing guidelines" that he claims have weakened deterrence and sent the wrong message to offenders.
David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, emphasized that each instance represents a knife removed from the streets, potentially saving a life. However, he noted that officers encounter too many obstacles when they suspect someone is carrying a weapon and require more support for their work.
The increase in teenagers caught with knives occurred even as the total number of stop and search incidents involving under-18s decreased from 6,487 in 2024/25 to 5,882 in 2025/26. Overall searches across all age groups saw a modest increase of 2.2% during the same period.
In response, the Scottish Government highlighted an investment of over £8 million in prevention and early intervention programs aimed at tackling youth violence, including knife crime, since 2023. Justice Secretary Neil Gray affirmed the government's support for Police Scotland's actions to ensure public safety, describing stop and search as a valuable tool in combating crime. Assistant Chief Constable Wendy Middleton described intelligence-led stop and search as an effective tactic for public safety, adding that all searches are subject to governance and review to ensure compliance with the Code of Practice. She acknowledged that such searches are an intrusion but stressed a commitment to fairness, integrity, and respect in their execution.