Number of young people involved in firearm offences ‘concerning’

The Scottish Government has released statistics detailing the number of recorded offences in Scotland involving firearms. While the number of offences decreased on the whole, the number incidents where the victim was under the age of 15 increased to over half in some instances.

Scottish Conservative Justice Spokesman, John Lamont MSP said:

"It is undoubtedly welcome news that the number of firearm offences are falling. This will be in no small part thanks to the 1,000 extra police that Scottish Conservatives managed to deliver in the last parliament, and it is vital that these numbers are maintained to ensure a further decline.

"However, it is still deeply concerning to see the high number of crimes involving firearms in which young people are involved. It is unacceptable that over a fifth of those committing offences with firearms were under 15 and even more concerning that over half of victims in some cases were under 15 as well.

"We have a serious responsibility to our young people to provide them with a safe environment to grow up in, and these figures show that the Scottish Government is clearly falling short in this respect."

The statistics can be found here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/10/21134009/0

They show that out of 434 who were accused (if an offender was identified) in offences involving the use of a firearm 21% (91) were under 15 years old.

In offences in which a firearm was alleged to have been fired causing fatal or non-fatal injury, out of a total 111 victims, 58 were under 15, this is 52%. Compared to last year, this is an increase from 44%.

In offences in which an identified firearm, other than an air weapon, was alleged to have been fired causing fatal or non-fatal injury, out of a total 57 victims, 33 were under 15, making it 58%. Compared to last year, this is an increase as well from 45%.

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