Statistical Bulletin Crime and Justice Series: Firearm Certificates Statistics, Scotland, 2007

3.1 Firearm Certificates ( Tables 1 to 3)

There were 26,056 firearm certificates on issue at the end of 2007, a decrease of 1 per cent from 2006 and continuing the general downward trend in numbers over the 10 years covered by this bulletin.
However, the number of firearms held on certificate increased slightly from 66,164 in 2006 to 66,893 in 2007 ( see Annex Note 9). The number of firearms held on certificate in 2007 was 10 per cent higher than in 1998, and the highest number in the 10 years covered by this bulletin.
In 2007, there were 1,203 applications for new firearm certificates, an increase
of 4 per cent compared with 2006. The vast majority (1,194 or 99 per cent) of applications were granted, with 9 applications (less than 1 per cent) being refused.
In 2007, 6,634 firearm certificates were renewed, representing nearly 100 per cent of all applications. Only 7 applications for renewal were refused in 2007.
There were 1,327 cancellations of firearm certificates in 2007, compared to 1,389 cancellations in 2006 ( see Annex Note 10). In addition, 55 firearm certificates were revoked. Cancellations outnumbered successful applications, thus decreasing the number of certificates on issue at the end of 2007 compared to the previous year.

Chart 2 New granted applications, cancellations and revocations, and total on issue of firearm certificates, Scotland, 1998-2007 ⁽¹⁾

Chart 2 New granted applications, cancellations and revocations, and total on issue of firearm certificates, Scotland, 1998-2007

Over a quarter (7,097) of all firearms certificates on issue at the end of 2007 were in the Northern police force area. Grampian police force area contained the second highest number of firearm certificates (4,531), followed by Strathclyde (3,663) and Lothian and Borders (3,619).
The number of firearm certificates on issue per head of population was highest in the Northern police force area (2,505 per 100,000 population) and lowest in Strathclyde (166 per 100,000 population).
The 26,056 firearm certificates on issue at 31 December 2007 covered the possession of 66,893 firearms. In addition, the certificates on issue authorised a further 8,157 firearms to be purchased or acquired ( see Annex Note 9).
Eighty-two per cent of certified firearms where the type of weapon was known were rifles (possessed or authorised to be purchased or acquired).

3.2 Shot Gun Certificates ( Tables 4 to 5a)

There were 49,213 shot gun certificates on issue at the end of 2007, a decrease of 2 per cent from 2006.
The 49,213 shot gun certificates on issue at the end of 2007 covered the possession of 133,940 shot guns, an increase of 1 per cent compared to 2006, and the highest number in the 10 years covered by this bulletin.
The number of applications for a new shot gun certificate was 1,891 in 2007, 2 per cent higher than the 2006 figure of 1,862. There were 1,860 successful applications in 2007, compared to 2,608 cancellations.

Chart 3 New granted applications, cancellations and revocations, and total on issue of shot gun certificates, Scotland, 1998-2007 ⁽¹⁾

Chart 3 New granted applications, cancellations and revocations, and total on issue of shot gun certificates, Scotland, 1998-2007

There were 13,133 renewed shot gun certificates in 2007. Only 9 applications for renewal were refused, compared to 30 refusals in 2006.
In 2007, 2,608 shotgun certificates were cancelled, a decrease of 9 per cent compared with 2,879 cancellations in 2006 ( see Annex Note 10), while 83 were revoked, an increase of 8 per cent on the 77 certificates revoked in 2006.
Strathclyde (8,940), Grampian (8,935) and Northern (8,673) police force areas jointly accounted for more than half of all shot gun certificates on issue at the end of 2007.
The number of shot gun certificates on issue per head of population was highest in Northern police force area (3,061 per 100,000 population) and lowest in Strathclyde (405 per 100,000 population).

Chart 4 Firearm and shot gun certificates on issue at 31 December 2007 per 100,000 population ⁽¹⁾

Chart 4 Firearm and shot gun certificates on issue at 31 December 2007 per 100,000 population

3.3 Firearm Dealers (Tables 6 and 7)

There were 301 registered firearms dealers in Scotland at the end of 2007, an increase of 6 per cent from the 283 registered dealers at the end of 2006.
In 2007, 143 dealers had their request for renewal of their registration granted compared to 31 requests granted in 2006. The number of dealers applying for renewal was much higher in 2007 than 2006, mainly due to the 3 year registration period cycle for dealers. See Annex note 13 for more details. There were 6 refusals for new registration and 1 refusal for renewal of registration among dealers, while 24 registrations were cancelled.

3.4 Visitors' Permits ( Table 8)

The number of applications for Visitors' Permits from both EC and non- EC residents in 2007 totalled 2,573 for firearms (up from 2,401 in 2006) and 4,685 for shot guns (up from 4,380 in 2006).

3.5 European Firearm Passes ( Table 9)

The number of European Firearm Passes on issue at the end of 2007 was 1,092, compared to 974 in 2006.

3.6 Article 7 Authorities ( Table 10)

There were 2 applications (granted) for Article 7 Authorities made by certificate holders in 2007, compared to 3 in 2006.

The Scottish Government