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| Neil delighted with police numbers boost in light of firearms stats | |
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Central Scotland SNP MSP Alex Neil has expressed his delighted at the news that Strathclyde Police Force numbers have been boosted by an extra 200 officers in the last six months. The extra numbers come at an important time after Mr Neil received statistics under the Freedom of Information legislation on local firearms offences. In the Monklands Division there were a total of 21 offences involving firearms including an attempted murder and a robbery last year. There were 10 occasions between April 2007 and March 2008 where a gun was fired, with 6 resulting in injury. And while 9 of the 21 firearms used were some form of air weapon, there were three pistols or revolvers and 5 imitation weapons. In the Bellshill Division there were a total of 11 offences involving firearms including which included two cases of reckless conduct with firearms and two assaults. Thankfully of these incidents there were only two cases of a gun being fired, but worryingly four times where it was used a blunt instrument or weapon. And while 9 of the 11 firearms used were some form of air weapon, there was a pistol and an imitation weapon used. In the Hamilton Division there were a total of 24 offences involving firearms including which included three attempted murders, two serious assaults and five robberies. Of these offences, committed between April 2007 and March 2008, there were four occasions were a gun was fired resulting in injury and twelve separate cases of a gun being fired in total. A firearm was also used in nine offences to threaten. And while 10 of the 24 firearms used were some form of air weapon, there were three shotguns, three pistols or revolvers and two imitation weapons used In the Motherwell and Wishaw Division there were a total of 24 offences involving firearms including which included a serious assault, two robberies and four minor assaults. Of these offences, committed between April 2007 and March 2008, there were three occasions were a gun was fired resulting in injury and five separate cases of a gun being fired in total. A firearm was also used in eight offences to threaten. And while 10 of the 24 firearms used were some form of air weapon, there were three shotguns, three pistols or revolvers and three imitation weapons used In the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Division there were a total of 14 offences involving firearms including which included a robbery and five assaults. Of these offences, committed between April 2007 and March 2008, there were three occasions were a gun was fired resulting in injury and 11 separate cases of a gun being fired in total. A firearm was also used in two offences to threaten. And while 11 of the 14 firearms used were some form of air weapon, there was a pistol or revolver and an imitation weapon used In the East Kilbride and Strathhaven Division there were a total of 9 offences involving firearms which included three robberies and an assault. Of these offences, committed between April 2007 and March 2008, there were five separate cases of a gun being fired and a firearm was used in two offences to threaten. And while 5 of the 9 firearms used were some form of air weapon, there were two pistols or revolvers and an imitation weapon used – highlighting a dangerously increasing trade in imitation or modified weapons across the country. Commenting Mr Neil said: “People in Lanarkshire area of the Strathclyde Police catchment will be rightly worried about these firearm statistics which show there was an offence involving firearms occurring almost every three days across Lanarkshire. “The news that 205 extra officers have been enrolled in Strathclyde Police in the last six months will be very welcome for people living in these areas. “When the SNP came to power there was a pledge to increase police numbers by 450 before March 2009. What we are seeing is that commitment fulfilled and surpassed as these 205 officers get added to the 440 already in place. “These police officer figures highlight how the SNP Government is delivering for the people of Lanarkshire to try and tackle offences, such as those involving firearms, and make the area a safer place. |
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