Increase in firearms crimes, but total still second lowest on record

Firearms crimes have risen in Scotland, figures show, although numbers were still the second lowest on record.

Police recorded 341 offences in which a firearm was alleged to have been involved in 2019-20 – a rise of 3% from 332 the previous year.

However the Scottish Government report said the total for 2018-19 was “the lowest since records began in 1980, with the 341 offences in 2019-20 the second lowest”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There was one homicide involving the use of a firearm in 2019-20 – down from three the previous year.

Firearms crimes have risen in Scotland, figures show, although numbers were still the second lowest on record.Firearms crimes have risen in Scotland, figures show, although numbers were still the second lowest on record.
Firearms crimes have risen in Scotland, figures show, although numbers were still the second lowest on record.

Attempted murders involving a firearm fell from nine in 2018-19 to seven the following year, with two serious assaults involving a firearm in each year.

The number of robberies involving a firearms increased from 29 in 2018-19 to 39.

Read More
Morale among Police Scotland rank and file at 'rock bottom' amid soaring mental ...

The most common offence was possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life or commit crime, with 112 offences recorded in 2019-20 – up from 104 the previous year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In more than half (55%) of the alleged crimes where a firearm was involved, it was used to threaten someone.

In 12% of cases they were fired with no injury or damage caused, but 9% of cases where weapons were fired resulted in injury.

Of the 34 people injured – either fatally or non-fatally – in a firearms incident in 2019-20, 27 were men and seven were women.

The data for 2015-16 to 2018-19 showed that air weapons were the most likely firearms to be used, but this changed in 2019-20 to pistols or revolvers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A total of 71 firearms offences in 2019-20 involved an air weapon, a fall of 22% from 91 the previous year.

Pistols or revolvers were used in 95 offences – up by 83% from the previous year’s total of 52.

Offences involving shotguns (31), unidentified firearms (37) and imitation firearms (38) all fell, the data showed.

Dare to be Honest
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice