Only proper coordinated action on all fronts will cure Scotland’s culture of “recreational violence”, Head of the Strathclyde Police Violence Reduction Unit, Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan, has told a meeting in Greenock.
Action on all Fronts only Cure for
Violence Culture
Only proper coordinated action on all
fronts will cure Scotland’s culture of “recreational violence”, Head of
the Strathclyde Police Violence Reduction Unit, Detective Chief Superintendent
John Carnochan, has told a meeting in Greenock.
Speaking
to an audience of local campaigners against violent crime, police officers,
councillors and senior officials, he said that beating violence required genuine
partnership working, from communities on the ground right up to the top of
government.
Underlining
his team’s determination to tackle violence at its root, Det. Chief Supt. John
Carnochan said:
“The
question isn’t what we do when someone commits an act of violence.
That’s easy. We catch them and charge them.
We know how to do that.
“The
harder question is how we stop them committing acts of violence in the first
place. How do we address the
conditions – deprivation, a violent family background, poor education, a lack
of ambition – in which the violence virus thrives?
“This
isn’t about making excuses for it, it’s about stopping it.”
MSP
for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, who called the meeting, said:
“Despite
our efforts, so-called ‘recreational violence’ still persists in too many
Scottish communities. It has to be
tackled at source, as does our bizarre notion that it is somehow acceptable, or
even normal.
“I
am therefore very grateful to Detective Chief Superintendent Carnochan for
taking the time to spell out, not just the causes of this culture, but some
possible cures. There is no silver
bullet, but with determined, co-ordinated action, I share his belief that we in
the west of Scotland are not doomed to suffer this scourge forever.”
Councillor
Iain McKenzie argued that every level of government had to play its part:
“Detective
Chief Superintendent Carnochan’s presentation certainly gave everyone a lot to
think about. He has thrown down the
gauntlet to politicians, professionals, officials and communities.
“We
must have the courage to do more of what works and less of what manifestly does
not.”
Community
activist, Elizabeth Bradley quizzed Det. Chief Supt. Carnochan on how
communities could be supported when they took a stand against violence.
“Detective Chief
Superintendent Carnochan is absolutely right that it is often more effective
when communities themselves take a stand against this sort of behaviour,” she
said.
“He
related the story of a Drumchapel dad who, when his jaw was broken after the bus
on which he was travelling was attacked, resolved to tour the local schools,
showing the kids his horrific injuries and challenging their behaviour.
As a result, attacks on buses in the area are down 80% and staying down.
“But
if people are going to take a stand, they need to be sure that the authorities
will back them up. If they’re not
confident that they’ll get the support they need, how can you convince them
not to look the other way?”
ENDS
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