Knife crime statistics: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Information requested
1. Knife crimes in Scotland including homicide/attempted homicide involving bladed/pointed instrument broken down by council area for the last three years up to the latest available data.
2. Knife crimes (all other) including handling bladed/pointed instrument broken down by council area for the last three years up to the latest available data.
Response
I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested in the format you asked for. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. The reasons why we don't have the information are explained below.
The Scottish Government does not have some of the information requested as the data we receive from Police Scotland is a simple count of the number and type of crimes and offences recorded. We do not in general hold further details as to whether any of these crimes included a knife or other bladed/pointed instrument. There are two exceptions to this. The first are crimes of homicide, where information is held on method of killing (including by sharp instrument). Table One presents this information by local authority area for the latest three years. The second are those types of crime that specifically reference the presence of a knife or bladed/pointed article. This includes having in a public place an article with a blade or point, having in a prison an article with a blade or point, having in a school an article with a blade or point and possession of certain dangerous knives in a private place. Table Two presents information on these types of crime, broken down into whether they were or were not used to commit other criminal activity. Again, this is split by local authority area for the latest three available years.
This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Correspondence Unit
Email: contactus@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG