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RECORDED CRIMES AND OFFENCES INVOLVING FIREARMS, SCOTLAND, 2001

1. Introduction

1.1 This bulletin forms part of The Scottish Executive series of bulletins on the criminal justice system. It covers those crimes and offences recorded by the police in which a firearm was alleged to have been used or where a firearm was stolen. This information was submitted to The Scottish Executive by the eight Scottish police forces. Definitions of the terms and classifications used in the bulletin are given in the Annex. Numbers in the text have been rounded as appropriate.

1.2 Not all such crimes and offences are reported to the police. The extent of under-reporting is likely to vary considerably according to the seriousness of the crime or offence; for example, armed robberies are much more likely to be reported to the police than malicious damage caused by the firing of an airweapon. Moreover, the propensity of the public to report crimes and offences to the police is influenced by a number of factors and may therefore change over time; thus trends in the number of crimes and offences recorded may differ from trends in the number of crimes and offences committed

2. Summary

• In 2001 the Scottish police recorded 1,030 offences in which a firearm was alleged to have been used, an increase of 10 per cent from the 938 recorded in 2000. This increase affected all categories of offences, except robbery. The 2001 level is 47 per cent lower than the peak 1992 figure. The number of offences involving a firearm other than an airweapon increased by 40 per cent, from 368 in 2000 to 517 in 2001.
• The 10 per cent increase in offences in which a firearm was alleged to have been used was entirely due to an increase in offences involving firearms in the 'Other' and 'Imitation Firearm' categories.
• As in previous years, an airweapon was the most commonly used firearm. Airweapons accounted for 50 per cent of all offences involving firearms in 2001. The total number of offences which involved the use of an airweapon decreased by 10 per cent from 570 in 2000 to 513 in 2001. The number of offences involving the alleged use of a pistol/revolver decreased from 93 in 2000 to 64 in 2001, the lowest number experienced since 1993. The number of offences involving the alleged use of a shotgun decreased from 39 in 2000 to 35 in 2001 (the lowest ever recorded).
• The use of firearms in criminal activity constituted only a small proportion of all offences recorded by the police in 2001; 5 per cent of recorded homicides (5 offences), 4 per cent of recorded attempted murders (29 offences) and 3 per cent of recorded robberies (115 offences). Less than half a per cent of recorded assaults (260 offences) and vandalism offences (264 offences) involved the alleged use of a firearm.
• The number of offences in which a firearm was fired and killed or caused injury to a person rose from 306 in 2000 to 348 in 2001, an increase of 14 per cent. Of the 701 offences in which a firearm was actually fired, 63 per cent involved the use of an airweapon. Of those offences involving an airweapon, 199 resulted in injury to a person and 230 resulted in damage to property. A shotgun was fired in 18 offences resulting in personal injury in 6 cases (33 per cent). In 2001 there were 10 offences in which injuries were caused where a pistol or revolver was used. In a further 117 offences, injury was caused by the use of a firearm that could not be identified. In 2001, 149 main victims were injured by a firearm other than an airweapon, the highest number ever recorded.
• In 2001, 30 per cent of offences involving the alleged use of a firearm occurred in a dwelling. One per cent occurred in banks, building societies or post offices and a further 36 per cent on public highways.
• The total number of offences cleared up (where one or more persons were accused of the offence) increased by 7 per cent, from 459 offences in 2000 to 493 in 2001. However, this increase was less than the increase in the total number of offences involving a firearm, resulting in a decrease from 2000 of 1 percentage point in the clear up rate to 48 per cent in 2001.
• The Strathclyde police force area which contains 44 per cent of the Scottish population, accounted for more than one half (52 per cent) of all offences in which a firearm was alleged to have been used in 2000. More specifically, 90 per cent of recorded robberies, 68 per cent of Firearms Act 1968 offences, 62 per cent of assaults but only 22 per cent of vandalism offences in which a firearm was alleged to have been used took place in Strathclyde.
• In 2001 the police recorded 29 offences in which a firearm other than an airweapon had been stolen, an increase of 21 per cent from 24 offences in 2000.

3. Crimes and offences recorded in which a firearm was alleged to have been used ( Tables 1 to 10A)

Crime/offence type ( Tables 1 and 1A)

3.1 In 2001 the police recorded 1,030 offences in which a firearm was alleged to have been used, an increase of 10 per cent when compared with the figure of 938 recorded in 2000. This increase affected all categories of offences, except robbery. The 2001 level is 47 per cent lower than the peak 1992 figure. The largest category of offence involving the use of a firearm in 2001 was vandalism, which constituted 26 per cent of all recorded firearms offences. The second largest category was assault, which constituted 25 per cent of all recorded firearms offences. The number of recorded assaults increased by 4 per cent from 251 in 2000 to 260 in 2001. Between 2000 and 2001 the number of recorded robberies in which a firearm was alleged to have been used decreased by 16 per cent from 137 to 115 offences. The number of offences recorded under the Firearms Act 1968 e.g. the offence of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, commit crime etc. and other miscellaneous firearms offences, increased by 25 per cent from 115 in 2000 to 144 in 2001. Table 1A details the number of offences involving firearms other than airweapons. Here, the numbers increased from 368 in 2000 to 517 in 2001 (40 per cent). The pattern of offences once those involving airweapons are excluded is rather different. The largest category of offences is assault, comprising 22 per cent of all offences.

Proportion of crimes/offences involving firearms ( Table 1 and Table 2)

3.2 The use of firearms in criminal activity constituted only a small proportion of all offences recorded by the police in 2001; 5 per cent of recorded homicides (5 offences ), 4 per cent of recorded attempted murders (29 offences) and 3 per cent of recorded robberies (115 offences). Less than half a per cent of recorded assaults (260 offences) and vandalism offences (264 offences) involved the alleged use of a firearm.

Type of firearm ( Table 3)

3.3 The 10 per cent increase in offences in which a firearm was alleged to have been used was entirely due to an increase in offences involving firearms in the 'Other' and 'Imitation Firearm' categories. In 2001, as in previous years, an airweapon was the most commonly used firearm. Airweapons accounted for 50 per cent of all offences involving firearms in 2001. The total number of offences which involved the use of an airweapon decreased by 10 per cent from 570 in 2000 to 513 in 2001. Excluding the category 'Other', the two equal second most common categories of firearm were a pistol/revolver - used in 6 per cent of recorded offences in 2001 and an imitation firearm also used in 6 per cent of recorded offences. The number of offences involving the alleged use of a pistol/revolver was at its lowest since 1993, decreasing 31 per cent from 93 in 2000 to 64 in 2001. The number of offences involving the alleged use of a shotgun decreased from 39 in 2000 to 35 in 2001 (the lowest number ever recorded).

3.4 Offences involving other types of firearms excluding airweapons increased by 40 per cent, to total 517 in 2001. The proportion of offences involving other types of firearms excluding airweapons increased by 11 percentage points from 39 per cent in 2000 to 50 per cent in 2001. Offences involving the use of an imitation firearm increased from 54 in 2000 to 64 in 2001. The number of offences involving firearms in the 'Other' category (mainly unidentified firearms), more than doubled from 171 in 2000 to 348 in 2001. The number of offences involving a rifle each year are small and volatile; there were only 6 such offences in 2001.

Crime/offence type by main firearm used ( Table 4)

3.5 In the five recorded homicides which involved the alleged use of a firearm in 2001, one pistol/revolver and four unidentified firearms were used. In 2001, shotguns were used in 3 robberies and 9 attempted murders. In 2001, an airweapon was used in 73 per cent of offences of vandalism in which a firearm was alleged to have been used. An airweapon was also the main weapon used in 69 per cent of reckless conduct with firearms offences and 55 per cent of assaults. A pistol/revolver, was used in 22 per cent of robberies (25 offences).

Result of the use of a firearm ( Tables 5 and 5A)

3.6 Of the 1,030 offences involving the use of a firearm in 2001, 68 per cent involved the actual discharge of the firearm - the same as in 2000. The number of offences in which a firearm was fired and killed or caused injury to a person rose from 306 in 2000 to 348 in 2001, an increase of 14 per cent. Property damage resulting from the discharge of a firearm accounted for 32 per cent of all offences (326) - a similar percentage to previous years. In 57 per cent of offences in which the firearm was not discharged, the firearm was used to threaten (189 offences in 2001 compared with 199 in 2000 - a decrease of 5 per cent).

Result of use of firearm by main firearm used ( Table 6)

3.7 Of the 701 offences in which a firearm was actually fired, 63 per cent involved the alleged use of an airweapon. Of those offences involving an airweapon, 199 resulted in injury to a person and 230 resulted in damage to property. A shotgun was fired in 18 offences; resulting in personal injury in 6 cases (33 per cent). In 2001 there were 10 offences in which injuries were caused where a pistol or revolver was used. In a further 117 offences, injury was caused by the use of a firearm that could not be identified.

Crime/offence type by use of firearm ( Tables 7 and 7A)

3.8 In almost all of the robberies (106 out of 115) the firearm was used to threaten, reflecting the nature of this type of crime. In assaults involving a firearm, the firearm was fired and resulted in injury in 85 per cent of such cases and was used to threaten in a further 7 per cent. A firearm was fired and caused injury in over half of the offences of reckless conduct with firearms.

Location of use ( Tables 8 and 8A)

3.9 In 2001, 30 per cent of offences involving the alleged use of a firearm occurred in a dwelling. One per cent occurred in banks, building societies or post offices. A further 36 per cent of offences occurred on public highways. More specifically, the number of offences involving the alleged use of a firearm in a dwelling increased by 11 per cent from 275 in 2000 to 306 in 2001. Similarly in offences committed on a public highway there was an increase of 10 per cent from 335 in 2000 to 369 in 2001. The number of offences involving the alleged use of a firearm in banks, building societies and post offices decreased from 21 in 2000 to 10 in 2001.

3.10 In 2001, 26 per cent of offences involving the alleged use of a firearm other than an airweapon occurred in a dwelling. 2 per cent occurred in banks, building societies or post offices. A further 38 per cent occurred on public highways. The number of offences involving the alleged use of a firearm other than an airweapon in a dwelling increased by 33 per cent from 100 in 2000 to 133 in 2001. The number of offences involving the alleged use of a firearm other than an airweapon on public highways more than doubled from 91 in 2000 to 196 in 2001 (115 per cent).

Firearms used to cause injury ( Table 6 and Table 9)

3.11 In 2001, 348 offences were recorded in which a firearm was alleged to have been fired and resulted in injury to one or more victims. This was 42 more than the number recorded in 2000, an increase of 14 per cent. In 2001, airweapons were involved in 57 per cent of firearm offences resulting in injury, a decrease of 27 percentage points when compared with the proportion in 2000. Of those offences which involved an 'Other' (imitation, unidentified & other) firearm, the number which resulted in injury increased from 40 offences in 2000 to 133 in 2001. There was an increase in the number of offences in which injury was caused by a shotgun (6 offences in 2001 compared with 3 in 2000). There was an increase from 6 in 2000 to 10 in 2001 in the number of offences in which injury was caused by a pistol or revolver.

Victim characteristics ( Tables 10 and 10A)

3.12 The person most seriously injured in a firearm incident is referred to as the 'main victim'. The majority of victims of offences in which a firearm was alleged to have been fired were young. In 2001, only 146 offences out of 348 were recorded in which the main victim was aged 21 years or over. The main victims in 74 per cent of offences involving firearms resulting in injury were male.

3.13 From 1992 to 1996 there was a steady increase in the number of main victims injured by a firearm other than an airweapon, increasing from 46 in 1992 to 86 in 1996. In 1997 the figure decreased to 32 before increasing to 33 in 1998, 50 in 2000 and 149 in 2001 (the highest ever recorded).

4. Crimes and offences cleared up in which a firearm was alleged to have been used ( Tables 11 to 12A)

Clear - up rates ( Table 11)

4.1 In 2001, 48 per cent of all offences in which a firearm was alleged to have been used were cleared up, an decrease of 1 percentage point on 2000. The clear up rate for offences of homicide with firearms increased to 20 per cent in 2001 (although this is based on a very small number of homicides, 2 in 2000 and 5 in 2001), while the clear up rate for assault with firearms decreased from 57 per cent in 2000 to 49 per cent in 2001. The clear up rates for reckless conduct with firearms decreased marginally from 53 per cent in 2000 to 52 per cent in 2001. The clear up rates for Firearms Act 1968 offences decreased from 96 to 92 and the rate for robbery offences decreased from 55 in 2000 to 39 in 2001. The clear up rates for attempted murder and vandalism increased compared to their 1999 levels. A small decrease occurred in the clear up rate for `Other' crimes & offences from 78 per cent in 2000 to 72 per cent in 2001. However, care has to be taken when interpreting the figures in Table 11 since many of the percentages are based on very small absolute numbers.

Accused characteristics ( Tables 12 and 12A)

4.2 The total number of offences cleared up, in which there was an accused, increased by 7 per cent from 459 in 2000 to 493 in 2001. However, this increase was less than the increase in the total number of offences involving a firearm, resulting in a decrease from 2000 of 1 percentage point in the clear up rate to 48 per cent in 2001.

The number of offences cleared up in 2001 where the main accused was aged 15 years or under decreased by 12 per cent to 112. The number of offences cleared up where the main accused was aged 16 - 20 years increased by 2 per cent to 134 and where the main accused was 21 years or over the number of offences cleared up increased by 11 per cent to number 221. Over three quarters (79 per cent) of firearm offences involving young persons aged 15 or under related to the use of an airweapon.

5. Analysis by police force area ( Tables 13 and 13A)

5.1 Tables 13 and 13A detail the number and distribution of offences in which a firearm was alleged to have been used by police force area. The distribution of offences presented in Table 13 reveals quite substantial variations across forces. It is likely that the variations stem from the different characteristics of the force areas but it is also possible that differences in procedure, different force interpretation or variations in police recording practices contribute to some of the variation. For example, 70 per cent of all the offences recorded in the Lothian & Borders force area were vandalism offences compared with 0 per cent in the Fife police force area.

5.2 The Strathclyde police force area which contains 44 per cent of the Scottish population, accounted for more than one half (52 per cent) of all offences in which a firearm was alleged to have been used in 2001. More specifically, 90 per cent of recorded robberies, 68 per cent of Firearms Act 1968 offences, 62 per cent of assaults but only 22 per cent of vandalism offences in which a firearm was alleged to have been used took place in Strathclyde.

6. Crimes and offences in which a firearm was stolen ( Table 14)

6.1 During 2001 the Scottish police recorded 29 offences in which a firearm other than an airweapon was stolen, an increase of 21 per cent from 24 in 2000. The number of recorded thefts of a rifle in 2001 was 5, decreasing from 6 recorded in 2000. The number of stolen shotguns rose from 10 in 2000 to 11 in 2001. The number of stolen firearms falling into the 'Other' category also increased from 4 in 2000 to 11 in 2001. The number of recorded thefts of a pistol/revolver decreased slightly from 4 to 2 in 2001.

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