Recorded Crimes and Offences Involving Firearms, Scotland, 2020-21 and 2021-22

Clear up rates

Table 12

In 2021-22, 71% of all offences involving a firearm were cleared up. The clear up rate of offences involving firearms has remained relatively stable over recent years, with clear up rates fluctuating between 66% and 71% since 2015-16. These are consistently higher than the clear up rate for total recorded crime which has been between 53.4% and 59.3% between 2015-16 and 2021-22.

For further information on clear up rates (including how they are calculated), please see Annex 6.

The clear-up rate varies by crime type for offences involving firearms (and more generally). In 2021-22, the crimes with the highest clear up rates were Homicide and Serious assault (both 100%). Clear up rates for other crimes include, Breach of the peace etc. (85%), Common assault (79%), Possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, commit crime etc. (75%), Other crimes and offences (73%), Reckless conduct with firearms (62%) and Robbery (60%). The only crime types with a clear up rate of below 50% was Vandalism (15%) and Attempted murder (0%). However, it should be noted that there was only one Attempted murder where a firearm was allegedly involved.