Nearly 700 knife crimes have been reported in Scotland's schools

The data, revealed in response to a parliamentary question by community safety minister Kirsten Oswald, shows a persistent problem in school safety and has prompted concerns about the effectiveness of current government actions.

A total of 679 knife-related incidents were recorded in schools between 2021 and 2026.

(Image: Colin Mearns)

Of these, 155 cases involved knives being used in the commission of other crimes.

Annual figures show 127 knives were seized on school grounds in 2025-26, down from 149 in 2024-25.

The numbers for previous years were 129 in 2023-24, 139 in 2022-23, and 135 in 2021-22.

Alex Cole-Hamilton, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said: "This comes fast on the heels of a number of shocking cases of young people being killed by knives.

"No pupil or teacher should have to worry that someone else in class could be armed.

"I am concerned that the SNP's efforts to tackle youth knife possession are falling short."

The issue has taken on added urgency following the deaths of two teenagers in high-profile stabbing cases.

Last week, two teenagers were found not guilty of murdering Amen Teklay, 15, who was fatally stabbed in the heart with a sword in Glasgow last year.

Amen Teklay (Image: Police Scotland)

In June, three teenagers were convicted of the murder of 16-year-old Kayden Moy at Irvine Beach last year.

Mr Cole-Hamilton, a former youth worker, stressed the value of youth outreach in addressing the root causes of such violence.

He said: "For the best part of 20 years, I was a youth worker, helping some of the most disengaged young people get their lives back on track.

"That experience taught me that no child is inherently bad.

"Most of the time, they are just in need of some direction."

He said the decline in youth services since the pandemic has made the problem worse.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said, since the pandemic, the SNP had “presided over the quiet death of youth work”.

"Budgets have been squeezed.

"Services have struggled to survive, just when we need them the most."

Kayden Moy (Image: Police Scotland)

The Scottish Government maintains that knife crime in schools remains rare, but acknowledges that each incident is serious.

A spokesperson said: "There is no place for violence in Scotland's schools.

"Our classrooms should be safe and positive learning environments – and the majority are.

"While any incident involving a weapon in school is concerning, it's important to remember cases like these remain rare.

"We are delivering on the relationships and behaviour in schools action plan, developed with headteachers, teaching unions and local authorities.

"Guidance on consequences was published last year alongside risk assessments for violence, aggressive and dangerous behaviour."

They said the government had invested more than £8 million since 2023 in schemes to address and prevent youth violence, including knife crime.

The spokesperson continued: "We continue to work with partners to tackle and prevent youth violence and, in particular, knife crime, through targeted activity across communities – including in schools.

"We are also investing record funding of more than £1.7 billion for policing this year."