HC Deb 24 October 1988 vol 139 c83W
Mr. Wallace

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many reported crimes and convictions there were in 1987 in respect of offences involving the following weapons (a) shotguns, (b) air guns, (c) other firearms, (d) crossbows, (e) knives, (f) martial arts weapons and (g) bows and arrows.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Comprehensive information is available only on crimes and offences in which firearms were used. In 1987, 1,429 such crimes and offences were recorded in Scotland. Of these 142 involved shotguns, 1,094 involved airweapons and 193 involved other types of firearm, including imitation and unidentified firearms.

Convictions for crimes and offences involving weapons cannot generally be separately identified in the available statistics. Total figures are available, however, on convictions in 1987 for the following crimes and offences which generally involve the use of a weapon of some sort.

Crime/Offence Convictions (1987, Scotland)
Carrying an offensive weapon 1,086
Offences under Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 3
Possessing firearm with intent 9
Reckless conduct with firearms 129
Miscellaneous firearms offences 354