Criminal activity at Holyrood

Youth crime rose to the top of the political agenda

By John Knox BBC Scotland political reporter

When 13 teenagers appeared in Elgin Sheriff Court this week charged with 146 offences, they little thought they would be starting a national debate on the issue of youth crime.

But the politicians have now put it at the top of their agenda.

At first minister's question time at Holyrood, Jack McConnell made it clear it was one of his "priority" priorities.

"Youth crime is an issue in every part of Scotland I have visited in the past few months," he told MSPs.

Mr McConnell pledged new ideas on youth crime

"Rather than see the police blame the social workers and the social workers blame the police, and both blame the courts, and everyone blame the state of our communities ... we are going to pull all these services and issues together.

"We are going to tackle youth crime with real action."

Mr McConnell is to chair a new committee of ministers and the first new idea he has floated is to establish youth courts to deal specifically with persistent offenders.

Scottish Conservative leader David McLetchie though, said Mr McConnell was "walking around talking tough like John Wayne", making policy on the hoof, and at the same time portraying his deputy, the Liberal Democrat leader Jim Wallace, as some kind of hapless Frank Spencer.

Minor offences

The executive's policy on youth crime was "in complete and utter disarray", he said.

He particularly objected to the idea of referring 16 and 17-year-olds to the Children's Panel for minor offences.

John Swinney, for the Scottish National Party, echoed the Tory scepticism on executive action.

He listed six different policy reviews or strategy documents issued in the last three years and wondered what had become of them.

"The first minister had his chance when he was education minister to do something about youth crime," Mr Swinney.

"He had a second chance when he became first minister six months ago. Doesn't he realise that after three strikes, he's out."

John Swinney: "What became of policy reviews?"

The SNP suggested that the number of places in secure accommodation for youngsters dealt with by Children's Panels should be doubled to 200 - and that parents of vandals should be made to repair the damage done by their children, either with cash or community service.

The issue of Scotland's violent culture came up earlier in the week when the justice committee debated the most controversial clause in the Criminal Justice Bill ... the so-called smacking clause.

This is a provision to remove the defence of "reasonable chastisement" when an adult is charged with assaulting a child under the age of three.

Those who support the clause say it will send an important message to all adults that smacking a child is no longer acceptable and they hope it may be a step to a less violent society.

Substantial pay rise

But this week the police warned that it may lead to a lot of extra complaints which they will need extra resources to investigate.

On Wednesday, MSPs debated the future of the fire service.

The minister Dr Richard Simpson outlined a series of reforms just as the Fire Brigades Union was meeting in Yorkshire to demand a substantial pay rise across the UK.

The firefighters want to raise their basic salary from £21,000 a year to £30,000.

But it looks like they may have to agree to take on more responsibility for fire prevention and investigation in return.

MSPs learnt that 70% of fires are caused deliberately.

MSPs learnt that 70% of fires are caused deliberately

And of the 100 deaths from fire each year in Scotland, half are caused by alcohol abuse.

One debate which did not take place this week, though, was a member's debate initiated by the SNP's Mike Russell.

He wanted to debate the case of the former policewoman Shirley McKie who was wrongly accused of leaving a thumb print at the scene of a crime.

He is demanding a full apology and reform of the Criminal Records Office.

But the debate was disallowed by the Presiding Officer Sir David Steel on the grounds that the matter was sub judice because of a civil court action shortly to get under way.

'Best value'

He said Mr Russell's speech, which he had seen in advance, would prejudice the court hearing.

The mother of the house, Winnie Ewing, pointed out that anyone wishing to stifle debate in parliament could simply raise a civil action.

Sir David agreed that the issue needed to be looked at again by the procedures committee.

A new bill was placed before parliament this week, the Local Government Bill.

It formally sweeps away the Conservative's big idea of compulsory competitive tendering of council services and replaces it was a "best value" scheme to be monitored by the Accounts Commission.

Shirley McKie: Debate was cancelled

It also introduces higher standards for consultation and places a responsibility on councils to promote "the well being" of their area, not just fulfil their statutory obligations.

The rural development committee also found itself discussing "the well being" of communities when it visited Argyll on Monday.

Thirty people came to a meeting in Lochgilphead to give MSPs their ideas on how to revive the rural economy.

They ranged from a reform of the rating system, establishing agricultural co-operatives, fixing a fair price for milk, opening up conservation grants to all, and coming to sensible decisions on the siting of wind farms.

Loose coping stones

Finally, MSPs got their chance this week to congratulate the Queen on her Silver Jubilee.

The loyal speeches were rudely interrupted by a motion from the Socialist Tommy Sheridan.

" Yes the Queen has a place," he said, "and that place is in Madam Tussaud's or in the Museum of Scotland beside the dinosaurs."

His motion was voted down 101 to 2.

But it did shake the establishment a little.

Loose coping stones were found on top of the parliament building and the MSPs door is now closed and surrounded by ...scaffolding.

But now we are back with the issue of law and order!