Report finds success in tackling offensive weapons crime
Ministers have claimed success in tackling violent crime, as a new report shows that offences of handling offensive weapons fell by more than two thirds over the last decade – and emergency hospital admissions due to assault with a sharp object are also down.
The report, Recorded Crime in Scotland: Handling Offensive Weapons, is expected to help inform further work to reduce violent crime.
It records that over the last 10 years, total handling of offensive weapons is down by 64%, with the offence of possession of an offensive weapon down 79% and having a knife or similar article in a public place down 42%.
The median age of perpetrator has risen from 24 to 29, while there was a decrease in the proportion of perpetrators aged between 20 and 29 (from 34% to 24%) and an increase in those aged 40 or over (from 19% to 25%).
Between 2013 and 2017, perpetrators of criminal acts involving a weapon and their victims were more likely than not to know each other (59% known), and were both more likely than average to live in urban areas and areas of higher deprivation. In 70% of all cases both the perpetrator and victim were male, while 19% had a female victim and a male perpetrator.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson commented: “The world has taken notice of Scotland’s success in dealing with violent crime, in particular the work of our groundbreaking Violence Reduction Unit. We also continue to fund No Knives, Better Lives which aims to reduce the incidence of violence and knife carrying among young people.
“The trends in today’s report strongly suggest that we are making inroads in tackling this very serious issue. However, one violent incident is still one too many and we are determined to make further progress.
“This research gives us additional insight into both the victims and perpetrators of weapons-based crime and the circumstances under which it takes place. I want it to help inform our next steps in reducing violence in Scotland’s communities even further.”