By Chris Green
Fresh fears have been raised over the safety of Scotland’s police officers after a significant rise in the number of criminals being caught with weapons.
Rank-and-file chiefs said the “deeply concerning” trend meant that officers were being asked to face armed criminals with “minimal kit” to use in self-defence.
Justice Secretary Neil Gray said carrying weapons was “completely unacceptable” but insisted that Scotland remains a “safe place to live”.
An analysis by 1919 of recent crime data published by the Scottish Government shows that dozens of people are being found carrying weapons every day.
The number of crimes where people were found with weapons and used them jumped by 12 per cent in the year to June 2026, and by 36 per cent compared to 2022.
Incidents where weapons were found but not used also rose by six per cent year-on-year, and by 17 per cent compared to 2022.
Overall, police officers recorded a total of 12,579 instances of people carrying weapons in the most recent year’s figures, equivalent to 34 every day.
The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) said the figures highlighted the “growing threats” being faced by officers trying to keep order on the nation’s streets.
Recent incidents include a series of alleged attacks on officers in Glasgow city centre in September, which resulted in six people being charged.
The SPF has repeatedly called for all officers in Scotland to be equipped with Tasers, warning that it will take “somebody to be killed” before politicians start listening.
Currently only specially trained officers are allowed to carry the devices, despite polls showing that 60 per cent of Scots think the rollout should be far wider.
SPF general secretary David Kennedy told 1919 that the rise in weapons possession crimes was “deeply concerning, not just for public safety but also for the safety of our officers”.
He added: “Police Scotland officers are increasingly exposed to these risks every day, and yet the tools and powers available to them remain limited.
“Despite repeated calls for measures such as wider access to Tasers, frontline officers continue to face these dangers with minimal kit.
“The increase in weapons possession offences highlights the growing threats faced by those serving our communities.
“Officers put themselves in harm’s way to keep people safe, but without proper support and equipment, their safety is needlessly compromised.
“We urge the Scottish Government and Police Scotland to take urgent steps to ensure officers have the resources and powers they need to protect themselves and the public.”
Holyrood opposition parties called for more funding for Police Scotland and greater restrictions on the sale of knives in shops.
David Kennedy, SPF general secretary
Reform justice spokesperson Amanda Bland said the rise in crimes involving weapons possession was “a damning verdict on the SNP’s record on law and order”.
She added: “It’s clear that weapons are too easy to get a hold of on Scotland’s streets.
“As a former police officer, I know personally what this job demands, and no family should be afraid to send their loved one out the door wondering if they will come home safe.
“Reform has been calling for police to be given more powers to do their job properly, but this government seems set on squandering cash on virtue-signalling gestures while the people tasked with keeping our communities safe are left to pay the price.”
Scottish Labour’s justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill added: “These are worrying statistics, which underline the significant challenges that our hardworking police officers are facing.
“Police Scotland has been faced with underfunding for years, which is leaving it short of the resources required to keep our communities safe. The SNP must reverse this alarming trend.
“We have also been clear in calling for greater restrictions around the sale of knives, including by putting kitchen knives in locked cabinets or behind service counters in supermarkets, along with mandatory security tags.
“With youth violence on the rise, it is also imperative that officers are able to engage closely with young people across the country to deter them from carrying weapons.
“The Scottish Government has cut funding to violence reduction programmes. It needs to revamp its strategy and better resource this area to ensure this worrying trend is reversed.”
Responding, Justice Secretary Neil Gray told 1919 that Scotland’s police officers and staff “do an outstanding job, often in challenging circumstances”.
He added: “While our priority is to prevent the carrying of knives and other dangerous weapons in the first place, I recognise the vital work Police Scotland does in removing these weapons from our streets and keeping communities safe.
“Recorded crime is down almost half from its 1991 peak, and Scotland continues to be a safe place to live. But the use or carrying of any offensive weapon, including a knife, is completely unacceptable.
“We will continue investing in focused violence prevention work in schools and communities to address the root causes of violence and reduce harm, including through the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit and YouthLink Scotland’s No Knives, Better Lives programme.
“Provision of uniform and equipment is a matter for the Chief Constable, but I am clear that officers and staff should have the right tools for the job.
“I also welcome the Chief Constable’s commitment to the national rollout of body-worn video for frontline officers, which was completed earlier this year.”
