‘Last line of defence!’ Police demand tougher search powers to combat knife crime

A police body has called for more search powers to combat an increase in knife-carrying.

The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents rank-and-file officers, has said there are too many to obstacles to combatting knife crime.

Figures released earlier this year showed 145 young people were found to be carrying knives during police searches between April 1 last year and March 31 this year.

And in 2024, knives were found in 91 searches.

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David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said officers needed further support on the frontline.

He told 1919 Magazine: "Officers need to be supported in this work, and as it stands there are too many obstacles when an officer reasonably suspects someone may be carrying a weapon.

"As we've seen from recent cases, knife crime is a real problem in Scotland.

"Frontline officers are the last line of defence on this and must be given more to continue the work."

Last month, three teenagers were convicted for the killing of 16-year-old Kayden Moy, who was stabbed at Irvine beach, North Ayrshire, last year.

Former Scotland Yard detective Peter Bleksley told GB News that search powers were "absolutely vital" to the work of police officers.

He said: "Stop and search is the most powerful tool in the police's armoury in the battle against crime - not only knife crime. And the harsh reality is there simply is no replacement, no alternative.

"So it's absolutely vital that police officers carry out, stop and search because it takes weapons, guns, knives, drugs, counterfeit currency, stolen property, and so much more off of the streets."

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Scotland's Justice Secretary Neil Gray said there was "no reason to ever carry a weapon, at any time".

"The Scottish Government fully supports Police Scotland to take appropriate and proportionate action to safeguard public safety," he added.

"Stop and search is a valuable tool in combating crime and keeping people safe."

But Scottish Tory Justice spokesman Stephen Kerr said the Scottish National Party had "weakened deterrence".

"Following the tragic loss of young lives to knife crime, ministers should be doing everything possible to educate young people about the devastating consequences of carrying a blade and to get deadly weapons off our streets," he said.

"Instead, the SNP has presided over a loss of deterrence and a justice system that too often appears to put offenders before victims."

The number of stop and searches slightly decreased to 536,217 in 2024 to 528,582 in 2025 in England and Wales.

But the rate of arrest after a stop and search increased, from 14.2 per cent to 14.9 per cent.

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