Campaign effort sees Scots surrender hundreds of firearms to police
The weapons included shotguns, BB guns, air weapons and imitation firearms
Last updated 13th Jun 2022
A campaign has resulted in more than 300 firearms and 80 lots of ammunition being surrendered to police in Scotland.
The nationwide hand-in was part of a UK-wide firearms surrender campaign in a bid to remove unlicensed guns from communities and prevent them being used in crime.
A total of 319 weapons were handed into police stations across the country between May 12 and May 29.
The weapons included shotguns, BB guns, air weapons and imitation firearms.
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The Lothians and Borders experienced the biggest turn-in of weapons across the country, with a total of 50 firearms and 27 lots of ammunition being surrendered.
The second-highest figure was seen in Greater Glasgow - with 41 guns and 15 lots of ammunition - and the North East ranked third, with 37 firearms and seven lots of ammunition handed over to officers.
Renfrewshire and Inverclyde experienced the lowest number of weapons surrendered, with just five guns turned in and one lot of ammunition across the region.
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Building on public safety
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: “It’s really important that we continue to build on public safety across Scotland by providing opportunities for the safe surrender of weapons like this and by reminding the public to check their licences."
He added: “Members of the public are reminded that it is against the law to be in possession of an unlicensed firearm, regardless of how you acquire it and are reminded that firearms can be surrendered to the Police at any time.
“If anyone has any doubt, we have specially trained officers across the country who can make unlicensed weapons safe and remove them.”
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Keeping communities safe
Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans Keith Brown said: “We are grateful to Police Scotland for this important campaign to encourage those in possession of unneeded or unlicensed firearms or air weapons to safely hand them over.
“Firearm offences remain at historically low levels in Scotland, but by removing more than 300 weapons as well as ammunition this initiative will help keep our communities safe and prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands.”
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