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

Main firearm recorded

Tables 4, 4a, 5a; Chart 1

Between 2015-16 and 2018-19, the most likely main firearm recorded was an air weapon. This changed in 2019-20, where the most likely main firearm recorded was a pistol/revolver. This then changed back to an air weapon for 2020-21 and 2021-22.

An air weapon was used in three-in-ten (30%, or 83 offences) of all offences involving a firearm in 2021-22, down from 102 offences (accounting for 29% of offences) in 2020-21. When unidentified and other firearms are excluded, air weapons were used in 41% of offences in 2021-22.

Over the last seven years, the number of offences involving an air weapon fell by 56% (from 190 to 83 offences).

Between 2020-21 and 2021-22, most of the remaining types of firearms saw a decrease. Unidentified firearms decreased by 29 (46%), pistol/revolver by 19 (35%), other firearms by 13 (25%), Shotgun by 6 (25%) and Imitation firearm by 3 (7%). Rifle was the only type of firearm that increased in this time period (up 9, or 69%).

In 2021-22, Air weapons were most common in Common assault (55%), Reckless conduct with a firearm (33%), Other crimes and offences (33%) and Possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, commit crime etc. (20%). It was also used in the only Attempted murder involving the alleged use of a firearm.

Chart 1 shows the type of weapon used in each offence as a proportion of the total number of offences recorded in each year (excluding unidentified and other firearms), 2015-16 to 2021-22.

Air weapon was the most common firearm recorded in offences involving the alleged use of a firearm in 2021-22 whilst Shotgun was the least common