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Firearms Statistics Scotland 2006
15/05/2007
There was a slight decrease in both the number of firearm certificates and the number of shot gun certificates on issue at the end of last year, according to official statistics published today.
The annual firearm certificates statistical bulletin shows that there were 26,234 firearm certificates on issue at the end of 2006, a decrease of one per cent on the previous year. There were 49,974 shot gun certificates on issue at the end of 2006, two per cent lower than 2005.
Other main findings include:
- Firearm certificates on issue at the end of 2006 covered the possession of 66,164 firearms, a 3 per cent increase on 2005.
- In 2006, there were 1,156 applications for new firearms certificates, an increase of 7 per cent compared with 2005. There were 1,389 cancellations of firearms certificates and 41 firearm certificates were revoked (see Notes to Editors).
- The number of air weapons held on certificate in 2006 was 594, up from 574 in 2005. This only includes the most dangerous air weapons. The vast majority of air weapons held in Scotland do not require a certificate.
- Shot gun certificates on issue at the end of 2006 covered the possession of 132,181 shot guns, an increase of 2 per cent on 2005.
- The number of applications for a new shot gun certificate was 1,862 in 2006, almost the same as in 2005. There were 1,844 successful applications in 2006, compared to 2,879 cancellations (see Notes to Editors).
- Strathclyde, Grampian and Northern police force areas jointly accounted for more than half of all firearm and shot gun certificates on issue at the end of 2006.
- The number of firearm and shot gun certificates on issue per head of population was highest in the Northern police force area and lowest in Strathclyde.
Background
1. Despite the efforts of both the Force and the Scottish Police Information Strategy (SPIS), Fife Constabulary has been unable to fully resolve a software problem on their Firearms Licensing Recording System. This has affected the figures returned by the Force for 2005 and 2006. The figures in relation to the total numbers of Firearm and Shotgun certificates held are accurate but the data in relation to applications and variations is not wholly consistent with these totals. The data for Firearms Dealers, Visitors Permit and European Passes is not affected by this problem.
2. The Scotland figures in this bulletin relating to 2005 are different from those published last year. This is because this is the first time that 2005 figures have been published for Fife. Due to Fife's difficulties at the time, last year's bulletin contained 2004 data for Fife instead of 2005. The problems experienced by Fife are not expected to have any effect on the total number of certificates in 2005 and 2006, but will impact slightly on the numbers relating to applications and cancellations in those years, along with the breakdown of weapon type.
3. Since 1997, various changes have been made to firearms legislation to enhance public safety:
Under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 and Firearms (Amendment)(No.2) Act 1997, all pistols - otherwise referred to as handguns - were banned. The Firearms Amendment Act 1997 provided special exemptions from prohibition for slaughtering instruments, and certain firearms used at athletic meeting, for the humane killing of animals, trophies of war etc.
Since January 20, 2004, there has been a ban on the sale, manufacture and import of self contained gas cartridge (SCGC) airweapons. Individuals who held such weapons had until 30 April 2004 to surrender them to the police or apply for a licence. This has increased the number of airweapons possessed on certificate compared to previous years.
4. Changes in regulations regarding the length of time a firearm or shot gun certificate was valid for took effect from 1 January 1995, increasing the period of certification from three to five years. As this includes both applications for new certificates and renewals of existing certificates this effectively meant that no certificates required renewal in either 1998 or 1999. This had the knock-on effect of reducing numbers of renewals in 2003 and 2004, with numbers rising again in 2005 and 2006. Numbers of cancellations are similarly affected.
5. This is a Scottish Executive National Statistics publication. National statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.