MP raises Kayden Moy case with ministers as she calls for more action.
JOANI REID MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, today (7 July) said she would make knife crime a focus of her campaigning and constituency work over the summer.
Today, at Home Office questions, she raised the case of the tragic and shocking death of Kayden Moy, the 16-year-old stabbing victim from East Kilbride: pressing ministers to get tough with social media companies who let teens pose with dangerous weapons.
Afterwards she said:
“Kayden’s death was a tragedy for his family and a shock to the whole of East Kilbride. The worrying fact is that knife crime is rising across Scotland, even in schools, and we need to mobilise as a community to bring it under control.
“I have been sent numerous videos by concerned and frightened constituents of boys and young men posing in their bedrooms with dangerous knifes and blades. The social media companies refuse to act, and the police say they have not got the power to act. But there can be no excuses for doing nothing when we all know this bravado leads on to violence.
“I will use the summer weeks to press social media companies, public authorities and the Scottish government to get their act together on knife crime and to insist we get real action and not more excuses.”
Ends
Video can be seen here: https://www.joanireidmp.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/knife_crime.mp4
Notes to editors
Crime figures for Scotland show:
In 2024/25, 115 crimes of handling an offensive weapon (used in criminal activity) occurred in schools – a 21% rise from the 2023/24 figure of 95.
In 2024-25, 152 crimes of handling an offensive weapon (not used) occurred within a school. This compares to 136 in 2023-24: a 12% rise.
