Weapon carrying is on the decline
MSP and police welcome drop
The number of people caught carrying weapons in Renfrewshire has more than halved in the last 10 years, its been revealed.
New Scottish Government figures show the number of cases involving people handling dangerous weapons in the region has dropped by 63 per cent.
In 2007/8 there were 19 cases per 10,000 people in Renfrewshire compared with seven in 2016/17.
Weapon carrying has long blighted communities across Scotland but the sharp fall in recent years has been welcomed by politicians.
The number of cases peaked at 20 per 10,000 in 2008/9 but has been in a steady decline since.
Paisley MSP George Adam insists the numbers show the SNP government’s crime strategy is working.
He said: “This is welcome news – and proves that the SNP’s approach to issues such as knife crime is paying dividends for our communities across Paisley and Renfrewshire.
“Thanks to our approach to justice and well-supported police in our communities, there has been a marked drop in the number of weapons offences across Renfrewshire – meaning everyone can enjoy living here more safely.”
MSP Tom Arthur also praised the approach, saying the UK Government is looking to follow some of the lessons learned north of the border.
He said: “Given this sharp drop in weapons offences – 63 per cent since 2007, contrasting sharply with the trend south of the border – it is no wonder that the Tory UK government are looking to Scotland for answers on how to tackle crime, acknowledging that they have a lot to learn from Scotland.
“The SNP has made justice one of its top priorities since coming to power in 2007 – putting more police on the streets and taking decisive action to reduce reoffending, meaning crime is at its lowest level in over 40 years and our communities are as safe as ever before.”
Superintendent Simon Wright insists officers remain determined to tackle violent crime in all its forms and welcomed the latest statistics.
He told the Paisley Daily Express: “Tackling all forms of violent crime, including those incidents where a weapon is used, is a significant priority for officers locally in Renfrewshire.
“Our day to day activity focuses on targeting individuals who are suspected to carry weapons, as well as deploying officers to areas where violent incidents are prevalent in an effort to prevent such behaviour.
“While any reduction is positive, we remain focused and determined to continue to work alongside our partners to prevent such incidents.”