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Between January and June 2008, 1529 incidents involving firearms were reported in the Force area. This is a 25 per cent decrease on last year's figures (2044 incidents reported between January and June 2007).
However, officers are concerned at the increased willingness of individuals to discharge weapons, with a total disregard of the consequences.
Historically, the summer months and school holidays periods have seen the number of reported incidents involving firearms rise further. Already April, May and June this year has seen a 20 per cent increase (833 incidents reported) compared to January, February and March (696 incidents reported).
Thirty-seven per cent (51 incidents) of this increase were specifically related to air and/or BB guns and replica firearms.
Assistant Chief Constable Jim Green is concerned at the number of incidents ARV officers attend and the time spent dealing with calls involving predominately young males, carrying air and/or BB guns and replica firearms. He said:
"What we have to deal with day in, day out is young men carrying, or indiscriminately brandishing, air and/or BB guns and replica firearms in the belief that it makes them look important. They are not thinking about the possible consequences of waving what to all intents and purposes, looks like a real firearm.
"Unfortunately, we have seen in Strathclyde that airguns can kill. Every year people are injured as a result of the misuse of air and/or BB guns and replica firearms.
"What worries me most is the age of people carrying these weapons. Although mainly young males in their teens, it would appear those involved are getting increasingly younger with reports of schoolchildren carrying weapons in their school bags. Disturbingly, figures also show that young girls are now involved too.
"This is incredibly alarming and action has to be taken. It is not just up to the police, parents need to know what their child is up to, who they are with and what they are doing."
The vast majority of people buy imitation firearms and air weapons for recreational use, however, such weapons have also been used for a wide range of criminal purposes.
Despite rigorous specialist training, firearms officers, who are all volunteers, have to make split second decisions as to whether the gun pointed at them or a member of the public is real or not.
ACC Green continued:
"Air and/or BB guns and replica firearms can look like a real firearm and can be just as deadly. Sometimes highly trained ballistic examiners have to inspect the weapon to tell the difference.
"Can you imagine what it would be like for a police officer to be involved in a shooting and find out that the weapon was an imitation firearm in the hands of a young person? Whilst they are trained to deal with these situations, no officer would ever want to be in that position."
Speaking ahead of his tour of the Strathclyde Police Firearms Training Department, Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill today said:
"I am delighted to meet the firearms officers and hear at first hand the issues that they are dealing with on a daily basis.
"These dedicated, highly-skilled professionals do a tough job that is becoming harder by the prevalence of replicas and air weapons on our streets.
"The Scottish Government will play its part in supporting the work of Strathclyde and other forces to both tackle the firearms menace and educate the public about the danger of these weapons falling into the wrong hands.
"There was considerable agreement during the firearms summit I convened in May that it is now time to review and overhaul the existing complex and convoluted gun laws in place in Scotland.
"I am determined to continue pressing for stronger firearms legislation, including on air weapons, to help protect communities across Scotland."
ACC Green concluded:
"The number of incidents has fallen compared to previous years and that can in some way be attributed to the ongoing high visibility patrols, the Strathclyde Police Violence Reduction Campaign and the deployment of additional ARVs, however, the number of reported incidents is still too high.
"Our message is very important, we need people, especially parents, to understand that these weapons are not toys, they have killed and can seriously injure people. We do not want an incident to end in tragedy.
"Legislation dictates that anyone in a public place who has possession of an air weapon (whether loaded or not) or an imitation firearm, may be guilty of an offence. We are determined, through education, enforcement and by working with parents and retailers, to get these weapons out of circulation." |
