Scottish Government Debate: Building Stronger, Safer and Inclusive Communities, Together

Scottish Government Debate: Building Stronger, Safer and Inclusive Communities, Together Simita Kumar S7M-01084 That the Parliament agrees that all individuals should be treated with dignity and respect and able to feel safe in their communities; supports robust criminal justice responses to violence, intimidation, hatred and disorder that harm individuals, and damage community relations; rejects attempts by the small minority of people who create fear, division and hostility within Scotland's communities in person and online, and supports efforts to build trust, strengthen cohesion and ensure that everyone can live safely free from prejudice, hatred and discrimination. Further details available for S7M-01084 Pauline McNeill S7M-01084.4 As an amendment to S7M-01084 in the name of Simita Kumar (Building Stronger, Safer and Inclusive Communities, Together), insert at end, “; recognises that Scotland will only build safe and inclusive communities by fundamentally tackling inequality and delivering better opportunities and living standards for everyone, and calls on the Scottish Government to restore policing at a local level, while addressing the needs of communities across the country, including by reversing declining Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) scores, reforming the skills system and improving access to good local health and social care.” Further details available for S7M-01084.4 Thomas Kerr S7M-01084.1 an amendment to S7M-01084 in the name of Simita Kumar (Building Stronger, Safer and Inclusive Communities, Together), leave out from first “supports” to end, and insert "believes, however that many people do not feel safe in their communities and that the Scottish Government is ignoring the genuine issues created by a lack of integration and assimilation by previous generations of immigrants to Scotland; highlights the example of the Scottish Government withdrawing the funding of one year English lessons for child asylum seekers, prior to mainstream school, as an example of direct policy choices which, it believes, have driven division and destroyed cohesion in communities across Scotland, and calls on the Scottish Government to recognise the undue pressure put on Scotland's working-class communities as well as the genuine concerns raised by communities regarding the impacts of its policy decisions and not to dismiss them." Further details available for S7M-01084.1 Kate Nevens S7M-01084.3 As an amendment to motion S7M-01084 in the name of Simita Kumar (Building Stronger, Safer and Inclusive Communities, Together), insert at end "recognises the disproportionate harms to marginalised groups, and condemns the far right's deliberate incitement of violence against migrants, asylum-seekers, Muslims and people of colour; further recognises the need to work with community groups to co-design strategies for community safety, ensuring that any response is shaped by those most impacted by violence and discrimination; and calls on the Scottish Government to increase investment in community-led safe spaces, culturally appropriate mental health and wellbeing services, crisis support as well as the safety and security of frontline charities and community organisations that are facing threats and abuse.” Further details available for S7M-01084.3 Meghan Gallacher S7M-01084.2 As an amendment to S7M-01084 in the name of Simita Kumar (Building Stronger, Safer and Inclusive Communities, Together), leave out from first “supports” to end and insert “believes that the first duty of government is to protect the public and that public safety must never be compromised by political choices, financial pressures or a lack of capacity within the justice system; further believes that there must be consequences for committing crime and that those who commit acts of violence, intimidation, hatred, disorder and other offences must face swift and meaningful punishment; notes concerns that the scale and pace of asylum and immigration arrivals in some communities has placed pressure on local services and community cohesion, and calls on the Scottish Government to review the housing rules which have contributed to that pressure; gives its full support to the police and other law enforcement agencies in taking firm action against those who openly flout the law; rejects early release policies that put dangerous offenders back into communities because of pressure on the prison estate; calls for bail laws to be reviewed so that the protection of victims, particularly women and girls, is given greater weight; condemns unacceptable court delays that leave victims waiting years for justice and undermine confidence in the system; calls for sufficient police numbers and resources to maintain visible, effective frontline policing, and believes that safe and cohesive communities depend on upholding the rule of law and ensuring that criminal behaviour has consequences.” Further details available for S7M-01084.2