WIREDGOV

Scotland’s Chief Statistician today published Firearm Certificates in Scotland, 2014-15. The publication provides information on firearm ownership in Scotland.

As at 1st April 2015, there were 26,112 Firearm Certificates on issue. This is practically unchanged since the end of March 2014 and has remained broadly stable since 2006.

There were 48,941 Shot Gun Certificates on issue. This is slightly lower (down 0.5%) than the 49,165 Shot Gun Certificates on issue as at the end of March 2014. Since 2006 the number of Shot Gun Certificates has reduced by 1,033 or 2.1%.

As at 1st October 2015, there was 54,435 unique firearms possessed on Firearm Certificates and there was 107,646 unique shotguns possessed on Shot Gun Certificates.

There were 346 registered firearm dealers in Scotland. This is twelve fewer than the 358 reported as at the end of March 2014.

This will be the last Official Statistics publication by the Scottish Government on the number of Firearm and Shot Gun Certificates in Scotland. Police Scotland will take responsibility for future reporting of these statistics. Users were notified of this change through a SCOTSTAT update on the 5th October 2015. Going forward Police Scotland will consider on an ongoing basis the best way to produce information on Firearm Certificates, in consultation with users.