The Community Impact Project, alongside East Kilbride Neighbourhood Watch, is calling on South Lanarkshire Council and Police Scotland to take urgent and coordinated action to address the rise in knife crime and youth violence in our community.

We are urging the development of a comprehensive, multi-agency strategy that brings together community organisations, schools, youth services, NHS professionals, and local residents. The goal must be to create a safer environment for young people and to prevent further loss of life.

This issue extends far beyond East Kilbride. Knife crime and youth violence are not only criminal matters but also public health and mental health emergencies. Anyone, regardless of where they live—whether in East Kilbride, Glasgow, elsewhere in Scotland, or further afield—can support this campaign. This is about saving young lives and creating better futures.

The Facts:

South Lanarkshire experienced a 21% rise in non-sexual violent crimes between 2018 and 2022.
In 2024, 91 minors in Scotland—some as young as 10—were caught carrying knives.
Knife crime in Glasgow rose by 13% between 2022 and 2024.
Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among young men under 20.

Behind each of these statistics are preventable tragedies and missed opportunities. We must act now to change the course.

We are calling for:

A dedicated knife crime prevention task force in East Kilbride
Early intervention and education in schools and youth services
Community outreach through trusted, local organisations
Mental health and mentoring support for vulnerable young people
A more visible and engaged neighbourhood policing presence

The Community Impact Project and EK Neighbourhood Watch are ready to lead or participate in this task force, offering impartial community leadership. We will also publish a report with recommendations to guide this work and ensure accountability.

We invite the following organisations and stakeholders to join this initiative:

NHS Lanarkshire
Police Scotland
South Lanarkshire Council
East Kilbride’s high schools
Elected councillors, MPs, and MSPs
Local youth groups and charities
Faith leaders and community representatives, business leaders 

This campaign is a collective effort. We are also inviting individuals from across the country to participate in the task force, contribute expertise, or volunteer time to support this work.

Let us act now—before more lives are lost, more families are broken, and more futures are cut short. We must not wait until tragedy strikes again.

Sign the petition TODAY

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Website: https://thecommunityimpact.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16SiRxWXs8/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Email: ek@thecommunityimpact.co.uk

Support our community work:

To help fund outreach, leafleting, and awareness campaigns, donate directly via our GoFundMe:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/EKKNIFECRIME?fbclid=IwY2xjawLM4e9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHok12vELTGCy0lsHwlZipSm9Oh5vHjtUga4DLiiwAe6sdzs9TzRSRqQw5zk5_aem_c_1adxJGY--xssUyR5qW-Q

Please note: Donations made through Change.org support visibility of the petition on this website and are not received by us we recommend donating directly to our GoFundMe

Get Involved

We are actively looking for volunteers across multiple roles, including:

Task force participation
Youth mentoring and safeguarding input
Community outreach and engagement
Administrative and communications support

To register your interest, report local concerns, or suggest partnerships, contact us

Email: ek@thecommunityimpact.co.uk