Call for urgency in transfer of powers to ban air weapons

Published on Sunday 26 August 2007 00:56

SNP ministers are calling on Westminster to rapidly transfer control over airgun law to Holyrood so the weapons can be banned north of the Border.

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill is to write to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith proposing that a "legislative framework" be established so that the Scottish Parliament is given powers to legislate on the weapons.

Scottish politicians of all parties have said they want to devolve the powers, in the wake of several high-profile crimes involving the weapons, giving them the chance to enact tough restriction on owning air guns.

The murder of Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones was not committed with an airgun, but it has placed renewed focus on the growing problem of gun crime.

In Scotland, three people have been killed and 1,154 injured over the past eight years by air gun pellets. The statistics include the recent murder in Glasgow of two-year-old Andrew Morton. MSPs were presented with an 11,000-signature petition in March demanding an all-out ban.

Ministers in Edinburgh and Westminster have already met to discuss shifting powers of airguns to Holyrood, with the Home Office having given a "sympathetic" response to the plan.

MacAskill is now calling for a timetable to be set in place so that legislative moves can happen quickly.

Ministers here are also to consider requests from the police to toughen up the laws on gun crime if necessary.

A spokesman for the Scottish Executive said: "While unconnected to the recent murder of Rhys Jones in Liverpool, that horrific act nonetheless gives added significance to the desire of Scottish ministers to move forward in the area of airgun and other weapons-related crime, and the broader weapons culture in Scotland."

Ministers argue that airgun crime is of particular concern in Scotland following a sharp increase in incidents in recent years. New UK-wide laws have increased the age limit for ownership to 18, outlawed the sale of airguns at car boot sales and other outlets not regulated by police, and tightened the law on firing air weapons from private property.

But families affected by crimes in Scotland argue that only a total ban will suffice.

A spokesman for the First Minister added: "There has been constructive dialogue between Scottish ministers and their Westminster counterparts on enabling the Scots Parliament to lay a framework for a consolidated Firearms Act designed for Scottish needs and circumstances.

He added: "This is an area where we would like to secure progress as soon as possible, as we would wish early legislation, and the response has been understanding and sympathetic."

Any change is likely to be contained within a new Firearms Act. The spokesman said: "There is a need to put in place a modern and readily enforceable system with a greater emphasis on public safety, and deal with the particular problem of air weapons crime in Scotland."

The plans were supported by Scottish Secretary Des Browne, who said: "We are aware of the issues raised by Scottish ministers and, while our discussions with the Scottish Executive remain at an early stage, our priority is to work with them and other devolved administrations to ensure communities throughout the UK are protected from gun crime."

Figures earlier this year showed the number of air weapons held on licence in 2006 was 594, up from 574 in 2005. However, this only covers the most dangerous airguns and the majority need no official papers.