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Figures reveal cost of violence Fight against 'hard man' culture
(about 2 hours later)
Drunken violence is costing the NHS in Scotland millions of pounds every year, according to new figures. A 10-year plan to combat crime related to Scotland's "hard man" culture has been launched by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.
The warning comes as a 10-year plan to cut violence on Scotland's streets is to be unveiled. The framework, produced by the police-led Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), aims to change attitudes and cut violence-related crime.
Figures show the cost of violence to the NHS in the west of Scotland alone was £3.5m. It includes targets on tackling youth gangs and alcohol-related violence and aims to permanently reduce incidents.
The national Violence Reduction Unit is leading the new campaign to drastically cut violence by 2017 through education and new policing strategies. Mr MacAskill said that both police enforcement and education were needed.
Glasgow Dental Hospital published research on Monday on the extent and impact of violent incidents. Glasgow has one of the highest murder rates in Europe - significantly higher than other UK cities.
The hospital treats 1,000 patients with knife-related facial injuries each year. 'Starting point'
The ideal and worship of the hard-man has to stop Kenny MacAskillJustice Secretary Boys and young men in Scotland aged 10-29 are five times more likely to suffer a violent death than those in England and Wales, according to VRU head Det Ch Supt John Carnochan, of Strathclyde.
Across Glasgow, a patient is treated every six hours. He said: "The challenge of reducing violence within 10 years may seem daunting, but the Scots have never shirked a challenge.
Researchers discovered more than 83% were drinking at the time of their injury. "As a country, we need to be bolder, more innovative and less tolerant of violence.
A quarter of those treated would return to hospital with another injury within a year. "We see this document as a starting point, something to strive for."
This costs the NHS in the west of Scotland £3.5m annually. Speaking at the launch in Glasgow, the justice secretary Kenny MacAskill said Scotland's "hard man" image had to stop.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said co-ordinated action was vital to deliver long term reductions in levels of violence. We want to make sure that we reduce the level of violence and that we change the attitude of many of our young men Kenny MacAskillJustice secretary
He said: "The ideal and worship of the hard-man has to stop. He added: "There's tragically been a view that we can drink every nation under the table and, somehow or other, we think that we can take them on single-handedly thereafter.
"That, fuelled with alcohol, is the root cause of much - if not most - of the violence in our land. "There's loads of things that we can be proud of in Scotland, and it should not be that.
"We need to keep cracking down hard on those who carry knives while also working to educate young people about the dangers of carrying a weapon. "Violence is not inevitable, it's preventable. We have to change, we will change, and we will make this a better country."
"We are also taking co-ordinated action to help tackle the causes - challenging Scotland's 'drink to get drunk' attitudes, our new drugs strategy and our work to use money from the proceeds of crime to give young people more opportunities in areas like sport and arts." Mr MacAskill also revealed that a serious facial injury in Scotland occurs every six hours.
Daunting challenge He said: "That's shameful in a 21st Century developed country.
Det Ch Supt John Carnochan, head of the Violence Reduction Unit, said: "What we are offering is a vision of a less violent Scotland. "We can't go on as we are. We want to make sure that we reduce the level of violence and that we change the attitude of many of our young men."
"Certainly we anticipate that the plan will change over time as our aspirations grow greater and as more people sign up. The VRU was established in 2005 to work on long-term solutions for tackling violent crime.
"What we really want is for people to look back in 10 years time and reflect on just how far we have come. Based at Strathclyde Police Force's headquarters, the unit works closely with other professionals including social workers, health experts and academics.
"The challenge of reducing violence within 10 years may seem daunting but the Scots have never shirked a challenge." Silky rhetoric
A partnership has been developed with two Glasgow hospitals where patients who are victims of violence are counselled on ways to avoid getting into the same situation again.
Since June last year, patients with serious face injuries at the Southern General and Monklands Hospital in Airdrie have been given 20-minute advisory sessions with a nurse.
Christine Goodall, clinical lecturer in oral surgery at Glasgow University Dental School, said "Having sat in on a few of these interventions, you can definitely see a moment of realisation where people understand the sense of what you're saying to them.
"I'm very hopeful it will show good results."
Conservative MSP Bill Aitken MSP, the party's justice spokesman, said the SNP needed to prove to people that it was in a position to deliver the targets and re-establish faith in the Scottish justice system.
Mr Aitken said: "Worryingly, the signs are already there that the SNP is all talk and no action. They promised 1,000 extra police officers, now we might possibly receive 500.
"It is hardly surprising that people will need more than just silky rhetoric before they believe the SNP is in any position to deliver."