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

Firearm Use

Tables 6, 6a, 7a, 8, 9a; Chart 2

Amongst recorded offences in 2021-22, 104 (or 38%) involved a firearm being used to threaten. A firearm was discharged in 52% of offences. The breakdown of how the main firearm recorded was used is provided in Chart 2.

The decrease in the number of offences involving firearms between 2020-21 and 2021-22 was driven by a decrease in the number of offences where the firearm was used to threaten, which decreased by 40 (28%). Changes seen in all other categories were smaller. The only increase between 2020-21 and 2021-22 by volume was observed amongst ‘fired – non-fatal injury’ offences which increased by 52% from 29 in 2020-21 to 44 in 2021-22.

The number of offences in which a firearm was fired and caused fatal or non-fatal injury to a person increased by 41% from 32 in 2020-21 to 45 in 2021-22. For more information regarding the method of counting victims, see Annex 7.

The number of offences in which a firearm was discharged causing no injury or damage decreased by 9 offences from 61 in 2020-21 to 52 in 2021-22 (-15%). Crimes where property was damaged decreased by 15 offences from 59 in 2020-21 to 44 in 2021-22 (-25%).

Of the 141 offences in which a firearm was discharged in 2021-22, 42% (59) involved an air weapon, of which none resulted in fatal injury. Of those 59 offences, 21 resulted in no injury or damage, 11 in property damage, and the remaining 27 in a non-fatal injury to a person.

Of the 47 Common assaults involving a firearm in 2021-22, 22 resulted in the weapon being discharged and causing a non-fatal injury. This accounts for exactly half (50%) of the 44 recorded offences in which a firearm was fired and caused a non-fatal injury.

In 2021-22, where a firearm was discharged resulting in no injury, nearly a third (31%, 16 offences) were classified as Common assault, with the same number being classified as Reckless conduct with a firearm. Where a firearm was used to threaten, nearly a half (47%) of these were offences of Possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, commit crime etc.

The main way in which the main firearm recorded was used in both 2020-21 and 2021-22 was to threaten whilst the least common was as a blunt instrument