Young people living in fear, charity warns
MANY young people do not feel safe in their own neighbourhoods, leaders of a children's charity said today.
Andrew Girvan, director of children's services for NCH Scotland, claimed youngsters were as much the victims of violent crime as they were the perpetrators.
The organisation is taking part in a summit on gun crime being organised by the Scottish Government.
Mr Girvan pledged to make sure ministers were aware of youngsters' views after a survey by the charity found 63 per cent of young people said the main reason people in their age group got involved in gun and knife crime was to protect themselves.
He said: "We need to stop generalising and labelling young people as the problem.
"Young people are as much the victims as the perpetrators of violent crime and they want safe communities, just as we all do."
The study also found 63 per cent believed peer pressure was a major factor in gun and knife crime.
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Weather for Edinburgh
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 10 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east

