Sir – The most recent set of statistical data on recorded crimes and offences involving firearms in Scotland for 2013-14 has finally been published.
This follows pressure from the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, pushing the Government to publish the data in advance of the forthcoming stage three debate on the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill on June 25.
The Bill, if passed, will make it a legal requirement for all airgun owners in Scotland to apply for a licence.
The official figures show that airgun crime remains low, at its second-lowest level in the 10-year period of 2004-2014.
This also represents a reduction of 73% from 2006-07 when offences peaked.
To put this in context, air weapons account for just 11 out of 51,869 (0.02%) crimes of vandalism, eight out of 1,499 (0.5%) robberies and 182 out of 273,053 (0.06%) crimes in Scotland.
Police Scotland is known to be struggling to commit resource to a wide range of criminal activity but will be committed to a significant administrative burden if air-weapon licensing is implemented.
There are an estimated 500,000 air weapons in Scotland only a handful are used in criminal actions.
If the Scottish Parliament supports air-weapon licensing they will be committing a significant and totally disproportionate amount of police time to the administration of tens of thousands of licence applications.
BASC has been contesting these proposals as there is no evidence to support a licensing scheme following the 73% reduction in airgun crime since 2006-07.
There are serious concerns over the ability of Police Scotland to administer such a scheme after the number of firearms inquiry officers is reduced from 34 to 14.
There is no public benefit to the proposals as they are not expected to bring about a reduction in crime.
Airgun shooting is a low-risk, low-cost sport enjoyed by tens of thousands of people across Scotland every day.
The introduction of a licensing scheme identical to that required for high-powered rifles is disproportionate and, as these figures show, unnecessary.
Nicolle Hamilton. The British Association for Shooting and Conservation, Trochry, Dunkeld.
Bus not suitedto hospital route
Sir, – Irene Thomson’s letter (June 17) aboutdifficulties with the Perth Royal Infirmary and Ninewells Hospital bus link gave voice to what many people have been thinking.
I have never used the service since the new-style buses were introduced.
I used the old service when it was simply a link between Perth and Dundee hospitals.
It was convenient and saved Perth people having to take a bus into Dundee Seagate and a second bus out to Ninewells.
At that time, Stagecoach put on traditional buses.
The difference is that the hospital link is now just an extension of the Aberdeen to Perth X7 service.
These faster, X7 services used to run between Dundee and Aberdeen, stopping at the towns in between.
Perth has now been added and the service starts at PRI and stops at Ninewells before heading into Dundee city centre.
That would appear to be the reason why Stagecoach are using these continental-style tour buses.
It looks like the hospital link is now just a branch of the regular Perth to Aberdeen service.
These are fast and comfortable coaches if you are travelling long distances on a motorway but I can understand the discomfort of elderly people as the buses negotiate twists and turns on the way from PerthRoyal Infirmary to Ninewells.
The answer would seem to be to restore a dedicated hospital link for Tayside.
Maybe I am missing something and would be happy if Stagecoach corrected me.
Bob Ferguson. North Muirton, Perth.
Safety of elderly put in jeopardy
Sir, – I must concur with the adverse comments made about the interior design of the X7 buses on the Perth to Aberdeen service.
Like many others, I have to use the service to visit hospital for essential check ups and treatment.
As an elderly person who needs a walking stick for support, it is extremely difficult to negotiate the awkward stairs in the buses.
Being a one-person operated bus, there is nobody else to help you.
Once you reach the giddy, wobbly heights of the upper deck, the worry of how you are going to get down soon sets in.
The two seats behind the driver are very difficult to access too.
Come on Stagecoach, you should have taken this problem on board at the design stage.
Talk about accidents waiting to happen.
Bob Smart. 55 Bellevue Gardens, Arbroath.
St Andrews is a disgrace
Sir, – What a piece of nonsense about a mobile CCTV van parked inSt Andrews putting off visitors (June 17).
What are St Andrews visitors doing that they do not want the police to see?
Visitors are far more likely to be put off by the litter blowing around St Andrews.
The amount of litter in St Andrews, most of it from overflowing commercial bins, not the much-reviled students, is a disgrace and any steps to reduce this must be applauded.
Perhaps this is why St Andrews traders are so concerned.
Laurie Richards. 100 Crail Road, Cellardyke.
Tackle dreadful roads in Perth
Sir, – On Tuesday you dedicated almost the whole of a front page to MSP Murdo Fraser and his crusade against the car park operator, Smart Parking.
I fully support Mr Fraser but it is now about time he moved on and challenged Perth and Kinross Council on the state of the roads in and around Perth.
Mr Fraser might also wish to challenge Royal Mail on the state of the road to the letter delivery office in Breadalbane Terrace in Perth, which has been a disgrace for many years.
One wonders if our council leader Ian Miller and his colleagues ever have a look around the city, which is crumbling on a daily basis.
A few weeks ago Mr Miller was boasting about a bright future for Perth.
I do wish Mr Miller would enlighten us because his claims are not very obvious.
D S Stewart. 8L Tulloch Road, Perth.
Remember Waterloo
Sir, – Last Thursday marked the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.
There can be few battles which have had such as impact on the world as this.
Waterloo was the decisive engagement of the Waterloo Campaign and Napoleon’s last.
Many Scottish regiments, over-represented in British army ranks when compared with Scotland’s population, played a pivotal role.
Perhaps the most famous action by a Scottish regiment that day was the charge of the 92nd (Gordon) Highlanders and the Royal Scots Greys on the French infantry.
Stirring legend has it that the Gordons and the Greys together attacked the French column, crying, Scotland Forever, with the Gordons hanging on to the stirrups of the cavalry horses.
Every generation in Europe, up to the outbreak of the First World War, looked back at Waterloo as the turning point that dictated the course of subsequent world history.
As we note the surge of interest in the First World War, we should reflect on the bicentenary of a battle that ended what was a brutal war and whose impact can still be felt to this day.
Alex Orr. 77 Leamington Terrace, Edinburgh.
Focus on city’s unemployed
Sir, – Regardless of what went on in the Twitter row between Dundee SNP Councillor Gregor Murray and minister David Robertson, you have to wonder at the councillor’s priorities.
He is part of a party ruling a city with one of the bleakest employment outlooks in the UK.
Yet he spends his time tweeting about LGBT rights.
Robert Anderson. Kirkton, Arbroath.