Renewed calls for ban as number of air gun offences hits 150

Published on Wednesday 18 November 2009 09:20

THERE have been renewed calls to outlaw airguns after new figures showed they are used in almost three crimes a week in the Lothians.

Official figures show air weapons were involved in 150 incidents reported in 2008-9, including one serious assault. There were 91 reports of vandalism using the guns, as well as 18 reports of "reckless conduct".

The news follows concern at the rise in overall firearm offences, with 11 attempted murders in the Lothians in the past year.

Conservative MSP Gavin Brown, who obtained the figures, said: "The large rise in the number of firearm and airgun offences in Edinburgh should be of enormous concern to us all.

"It is vital that a zero tolerance approach to illegally held firearms is adopted and at the same time we must come down harder on those that commit firearm offences."

The Scottish Government has already called for airguns to be banned unless used for "legitimate reasons" such as pest control or recognised sporting events. The relevant law is currently controlled by Westminster, but the cross-party Calman Commission recommended transferring responsibility to Holyrood earlier this year.

Airgun regulations were tightened up following the shooting of two-year-old Andrew Morton in Glasgow in 2005, and the minimum age for possession was raised from 17 to 18. But many believe it is still too easy to acquire air weapons, since a firearms licence is not required. In September last year, a young mother and her baby daughter had a lucky escape when shots were fired at a bus they were travelling in near Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Chief Superintendent Charlie Common of Lothian and Borders Police said: "Any rise in firearms offences is naturally a worry.

We'd like to reassure the public that we investigate all reports thoroughly and we have a 24-hour armed response team."