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Publication - Statistics

Recorded Crimes and Offences Involving Firearms, Scotland, 2020-21 and 2021-22

Published
19 December 2023
From
Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, +2 more … Chief Statistician, Director of Safer Communities
Directorate
Justice Directorate, +1 more … Safer Communities Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public safety and emergencies
ISBN
9781835217924

Statistics on crimes and offences recorded by the police in Scotland in which a firearm was alleged to have been involved or where a firearm was stolen.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Key Points

In 2021-22, the police in Scotland recorded 273 offences in which a firearm was alleged to have been involved, a decrease of 23% from 2020-21 (353 offences) and down 20% from 2019-20 (341 offences).

The 273 offences in 2021-22 were the lowest since records began in 1980.

The most commonly committed offences involving a firearm in 2021-22 were Possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, commit crime etc. (26%), Common assault (17%), Breach of the peace etc. (14%) and Reckless conduct with firearms (also 14%).

The number of offences in which a firearm was discharged and caused fatal or non-fatal injury increased by 13 (or 41%) from 32 in 2020-21 to 45 in 2021-22.

An air weapon was the main firearm used in 30% of all offences including the alleged involvement of a firearm in 2021-22, followed by an imitation firearm (16%) and other firearms[1] (14%).

The number of offences recorded by the police have decreased significantly since 2015-16 though most of that decrease occurred between 2020-21 and 2021-22. Except for air weapons 46 percent of identified weapons were used to threaten, 18 percent were fired causing property damage, 17 percent were fired causing no injury, 10 percent were fired causing fatal or non-fatal injury, 8 percent for other uses and 2 percent were used as a blunt instrument. Forty percent of offences occurred in a dwelling, thirty-one percent occurred in the street and seven percent occurred in a shop. 96 percent of the main perpetrators were male and the remaining 4 percent were female. The median age of a perpetrator was 27. Except for other firearms, 41 percent of offences involved an air weapon, 27 percent involved an imitation firearm, 17 percent involved a pistol or revolver, 11 percent involved a rifle and 9 percent involved a shotgun.

Graphic text below:

How many offences were recorded?

  • Since 2015-16, the number of firearms offences has fallen by 32%
  • 2021-11 saw the lowest recorded level since records began in 1980

How were the identified wepons used excluding air weapons)?(%)

  • 46% Used to threaten
  • 18% Fired - damage to property
  • 17% Fired - no injury/damage
  • 10% Fired fatal/non-fatal injury
  • 8% Other uses
  • 2& Used as a blunt instument

Where were they uses?

  • 40% of offences occured in a dwelling
  • 31% of offences occured in the street
  • 7% of offences occured in a shop

Who were the main perpetrators?

  • 96% Male
  • 4% Female
  • Median age of the perpetrator was 27

What type of firearms were used (excluding unidentified and other firearms)?

  • 40% Air weapon
  • 21% Imitation Firearm
  • 17% Pistol/Revolver
  • 11% Rifle
  • 9% Shotgun

 

Contact

Email: Justice_Analysts@gov.scot

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