Politicians have thrown their weight behind a Daily Record campaign to curb youth violence following a baseball bat attack on a defenceless boy at a burger and ice cream van. In the footage, filmed and shared on social media, the 14-year-old victim is seen being struck around eight times with weapons including bats and wooden sticks.
Having tried to fend off the attackers, he falls to the ground after being struck twice more. His assailants continue to strike him while he rolls up in a ball and covers his head to protect himself.
The online video then shows the victim lying on the ground. The footage was captured in Hamilton on Friday, at a grassy area in front of two vans.
It prompted politicians to demand action on the epidemic of youth violence and call for extra resources.
Former teacher and South of Scotland Labour MSP Martin Whitfield said: “This is the latest in a series of worrying violent incidents that have plagued our schools and streets. It points towards a greater trend of violence that we must do everything in our power to stop. This must be taken seriously. More must be done to prevent these serious acts of violence.”
South Lanarkshire Green councillor Kirsten Robb said: “Our children are our future so it’s important we all do as much as possible to make South Lanarkshire the best place to grow up in so no one falls through the cracks. That means early intervention to avoid crisis, support for young people in crisis and the voices of children and young people being sought and heard in decisions that affect them.
“One example is the local Space to Play campaign which is continuing its work campaigning for improvements to and opening up of free facilities for children and young people. Play brings multiple benefits to the child and local communities and a play strategy would really help bring people together to create a better, play positive environment to grow up in.”
Scottish Conservative Shadow Justice Secretary Jamie Greene MSP said: “This appalling attack will shock anyone who sees it. There must be a zero tolerance towards violence in our schools and it is concerning that we are seeing such incidents becoming all too common across Scotland.
“Children and young people must always feel safe in and out the classroom and incidents such as this point to the SNP failing to get a grip of increasing ill discipline in our schools. The Daily Record’s campaign is extremely welcome.
“The SNP must reverse their savage budget cuts to local authorities who are often best placed to deliver activities to ensure young people can thrive and ultimately stay out of trouble.”
People in the area have cited other incidents around the vans. They claimed it had turned their neighbourhood into a war zone.
One said: “The ice cream vans parking where they sit has meant residents are scared to leave their homes due to fighting. We are a mixed community age-wise – there are parents with children in prams and older residents.
“We contacted South Lanarkshire Council to have the vans removed but they appear to prefer residents living in fear rather than upset these ice cream vans. If there were no vans, there would be no accumulation of pupils and no fear for residents.”
Three 14-year-olds have been arrested over the attack.
A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council said: “We will assist police in any way we can.”
Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The Scottish Government wants all pupils to behave in a respectful manner towards peers and staff – both inside and outside of school grounds. We have produced guidance for local authorities and schools to promote positive relationships and manage behaviour and there are a number of programmes that they use to do this.”
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