Police Federation Urges Stronger Stop-and-Search Powers Amid Knife Crime Crisis

Calls for Enhanced Search Powers to Combat Knife Crime

Floral tributes to Amen Teklay were left on a bench after he was fatally stabbed in Glasgow.

The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) has called for strengthened search powers to prevent young people from carrying knives. This appeal follows the recent acquittal of two teenagers charged with the murder of 15-year-old Amen Teklay, who was stabbed through the heart with a sword in Glasgow last year.

Amen's death was one among several fatal stabbings involving young people in Scotland, including 16-year-old Kayden Moy, who was killed on Irvine beach in May last year, and 16-year-old Kory McCrimmon, who was fatally stabbed in Glasgow's east end in May 2024.

SPF General Secretary Highlights Knife Crime Crisis

David Kennedy, general secretary of the SPF, stated that Scotland is "absolutely" facing a knife crime crisis and attributed part of the problem to the removal of certain stop-and-search powers.

Non-statutory, or "consensual," stop-and-searches were abolished in 2017, replaced by a code of practice requiring that searches be intelligence-led and based on "reasonable grounds."

Speaking on BBC's Radio Scotland Breakfast programme, Kennedy explained that these powers were removed after "statistics took over" and police officers were pressured to conduct searches improperly "to get numbers."

"Police officers now are walking by people who are carrying knives. They don't have the same powers to stop and search."

Kennedy reiterated his call for firearms to be available in police vehicles and reaffirmed his earlier statement that anyone who draws a knife in Scotland should expect to be shot.

Changes to Stop-and-Search Powers

Since 2017, Police Scotland's stop-and-search powers have been governed by a new code of practice emphasizing intelligence-led searches.

The SPF general secretary expressed a desire for police officers to have easier access to firearms, referencing the Skye shootings in 2022 as a catalyst.

"We're not involved in crime prevention anymore, we're reacting," he said. "We need to get back to preventing and the only way you do that is getting the police back into communities. If we get back to that Scotland will be in a better place but it's going to take decades, and we have to start now."

"We can't have any more young people's lives being lost because of knife crime."

Details of Amen Teklay's Death and Trial

Amen Teklay died after being stabbed in Glasgow's St George's Cross area in March last year.

On Monday, two boys aged 16 and 17 were cleared of his murder; their identities are protected due to their ages. The trial at the High Court in Glasgow revealed that the stabbing followed a feud between Amen and the younger boy.

The dispute reportedly began in 2024 after Amen and some friends, allegedly armed with knives, stole cannabis from the 16-year-old and two others during a drug deal. This led to a series of violent clashes involving various weapons.

CCTV footage of several incidents in the city was presented in court. One witness described the two boys as "at war."

Some of Amen's relatives were seen weeping outside the court as a statement was read on their behalf.

"Amen was more than the circumstances of his death. He was a young man who was known, valued and cared about by so many. His loss has been felt deeply not only by those closest to him but by the people across our community."

"We have also seen the fear, sadness and uncertainty which violence leaves behind. Its impact reaches far beyond those involved and it is felt by families, friends, neighbours and young people across our country. We hope today encourages more to reflect on what could be done so that fewer young people, fewer families and fewer communities have to experience this kind of loss."

Government and Police Response

Justice Secretary Neil Gray emphasized the importance of police search powers and affirmed the Scottish government's support for police actions to maintain public safety.

"Stop and search is a valuable tool in combating crime and keeping people safe. We continue to work with partners to tackle and prevent youth violence and in particular knife crime, alongside education, diversion and mentoring programmes."

Assistant Chief Constable Wendy Middleton described intelligence-led stop and search as a "valuable and effective policing tactic."

"This tactic must be used lawfully, proportionately and in line with the code of practice, introduced in 2017, for which we have a high compliance rate. The code has a dedicated section for children and provides guidance for officers when making a decision to stop and search a child using the appropriate statutory power. All searches carried out are subject to governance and review in line with scrutiny arrangements to confirm they comply with the code of practice being lawful, necessary and proportionate."