 Mr McConnell said respect in communities must be restored |
The first minister has expressed his "absolute dismay" that only four of Scotland's police forces have used new powers to take action on youth gangs. Jack McConnell said forces in Strathclyde, Fife, Tayside and Central had not tried "dispersal" as a way of tackling anti-social behaviour.
He said this was "inexcusable" and refused to rule out "directing" chief constables in favour of persuasion.
Mr McConnell was speaking at a regular media briefing in Edinburgh.
He insisted that local authorities and police forces must make better use of the powers they have to tackle the problem of anti-social behaviour.
"The powers are there to tackle anti-social behaviour and restore respect to the communities," he said.
"Those powers aren't being used enough in enough parts of Scotland.
"I intend to take my efforts to encourage police forces and local authorities to use these powers more regularly and more effectively to every corner of Scotland."
The Scottish Conservatives hit out at Mr McConnell's comments and accused him of blaming "anyone but himself".
Leader Annabel Goldie said: "If Scotland is to be made a safer place, then the first minister should listen to the people.
"They want more bobbies on the beat, a proper end to automatic early release and a more accountable local police force.
"The fact he is refusing to respond to any of these demands is his fault - nobody else's."
Scottish National Party justice spokesman Kenny MacAskill commented: "A bad workman blames his tools.
"Jack McConnell is using the same cop-out Cathy Jamieson used earlier in the week by blaming others for their own failings.
"Labour ministers have imposed ever greater responsibilities upon other bodies but have entirely failed to provide adequate resources to back up these new roles."
The first minister also discussed several other issues during the briefing on Tuesday.
 Mr McConnell wants more action taken on youth gangs |
On smoking, he said he was "not convinced yet" by calls to raise the legal age for buying tobacco from 16 to 18. He said the smoking ban had been an outstanding success, but added that the big challenge had been to ensure that people complied with the new law.
Mr McConnell said he had expected compliance to be a "difficult challenge" but pointed to recent figures which found a compliance rate of more than 99% in the month after the new law first came in.
He said: "The people of Scotland have surprised everyone, including me, by ensuring that this legislation is an outstanding success."
On energy, Mr McConnell insisted the question of whether and where to dump nuclear waste should be resolved at a local level. He said governments did not have the right to impose nuclear dumping upon communities and they would have to put themselves forward to take part in any disposal process.
His comments came as he talked up Scotland's potential to be a world leader in renewable energy, saying it would be the country's "most significant contribution".
Mr McConnell also said next year's Holyrood elections would offer Scotland a "fundamental choice" to accept or reject SNP plans for independence, which he believes would lead to political and economic instability.
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The people of Scotland have surprised everyone, including me, by ensuring that this legislation is an outstanding success
