Police chief calls for air-gun amnesty

Published on Tuesday 1 February 2011 16:40

A SENIOR police officer has warned of the potential difficulties and costs of introducing licensing for air weapons in Scotland.

There are an estimated 500,000 air guns in the country, and all, except for the most dangerous, are unregulated.

Tom Ewing, the temporary Assistant Chief Constable for Fife Police, said any move by the Scottish Parliament to licence such weapons would have a "definitive impact" on police resources.

Mr Ewing was giving evidence on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) at Holyrood's Scotland Bill Committee yesterday.

The Bill, brought forward by the UK government to devolve more tax and borrowing powers, also gives the Scottish Parliament power over air weapons, drink driving and speed limits.

Mr Ewing told MSPs: "Any proposal to licence all holders of air weapons would be very difficult and costly to introduce and place considerable additional pressure on existing resources. Should a licensing system be deemed worthy of introduction, it would seem reasonable to consider a Scotland-wide amnesty."