Violence Prevention Framework for Scotland: Monitoring Framework, 2025

12. Reduction in weapon carrying for self-defence

The VPF seeks to better understand the drivers of weapon carrying and seeks to prevent it. Research suggests that one of the chief motivators for carrying a knife is a fear of crime, which is often coupled with the belief that carrying a knife is protection against victimisation.[48] The motivation to carry a weapon as a means of self-defence can therefore be seen as a harm from violence that stems from fear of violence.

12.1 Proportion of adults carrying some means of self-defence/a weapon to reduce their risk of becoming a victim of crime

Figure 20: In 2023-24, very few adults (2%) in Scotland carried some means of self-defence/a weapon to reduce their risk of becoming a victim of crime. Numbers have been low across the time series.

Proportion of adults carrying some means of self-defence/a weapon to reduce their risk of becoming a victim of crime, Scotland, 2012-13 to 2023-24.

Source: Scottish Government - Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2023/24.

In 2023-24, very few (2%) adults in Scotland carried some means of self-defence/a weapon to reduce their risk of becoming a victim of crime. The latest position remains at a similar level to both 2012-13 and 2021-22, the increase and subsequent fall shown in the chart above is not statistically significant.