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Drop in firearms offences
27/10/2009
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill today welcomed a drop in firearms offences recorded in Scotland but said that further progress was essential to protect Scotland's communities.
The official statistics, published today by Scotland's Chief Statistician, show that within the overall fall in firearms offences, there was a 23 per cent drop in offences using airweapons. However airweapon use still accounts for almost half of all firearms offences. Mr MacAskill said this underlines the need for continuing efforts in this area.
Mr MacAskill said:
"It is encouraging to see a further decrease in the number of firearms offences, and the number of injuries and deaths caused by their use is at the lowest in 30 years. However it is concerning that anyone might think it appropriate to carry or brandish a gun, whether real or replica, and I know that our police forces and courts take such offences very seriously.
"We worked closely with the police and other stakeholders early in 2008 to discuss how best to tackle air weapon use and these figures show the early fruits of that work. However they also show that, despite a significant fall in number, there is still more than one airweapon offence recorded each day.
"As a Government we have pressed the UK Government time and time again to let us take action on airweapons. These figures demonstrate that airweapons remain a real problem in Scotland - and if the UK Government is not prepared to act then I urge them to accept the recommendation of the Calman Commission to transfer the responsibility to the Scottish Parliament.
"The people of Scotland are crying out for action to tackle firearms, to get them off our streets and out of the hands of dangerous individuals. At our firearms summit last year there was clear agreement that the current legislation is not fit for purpose. It needs to be comprehensively reviewed - not left in the current confusing muddle. We either need action at a UK level, or the UK Government need to agree to devolve firearms legislation wholesale, to ensure that the law is able to better protect Scottish communities.
"We have acted where we can. Earlier this year we launched an award-winning campaign to highlight the dangers of using an airweapon. The key to turning young people away from airweapons is education - education about the dangers and also the penalties that face those who use them.
"Recorded crime in Scotland is at its lowest level for nearly 30 years and firearms offences have fallen. But there is still much more we can do to make our streets and communities safer and we are committed to working with the police and others to make that happen."
Recorded Crimes and Offences involving Firearms, Scotland, 2008-09 was published today by Scotland's Chief Statistician.
The Scottish Government launched an awareness campaign on the dangers and consequences of using air and replica guns.