Experts have made calls for a weapons amnesty in Scotland for the first time in three decades.
The Scottish Police Federation and the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) are calling for measures to remove firearms from circulation and make the streets safer.
They say new technology, the dark web, the threat of terrorism and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine mean illegal weapons remain a danger to communities.
It comes after two guns produced by 3D printers were recorded by police in Scotland for the first time in the middle of last year.
Scottish Police Federation chairman David Threadgold, 49, believes an amnesty – also covering blades such as swords and knives – could make neighbourhoods across the country safer.
He said: “There are people that will take a legally held firearm and use it for criminal activity.
“We have got to get that balance right, of course, and the impact on the police is that they do not potentially have to deal with that type of crime.
“The impact on the police and community could be significant.
“If everything else is in place, bearing in mind that the SPF is the voice of every police officer in Scotland, I don’t think you would have a single cop who would not advocate against potentially making our community safer.”
There were almost 20,000 offensive weapon crimes recorded by police in Scotland between 2021 and 2023, data revealed.
Any country-wide amnesty would need the approval of the Crown Office and Police Scotland.
David Kennedy, general secretary of the group, said that if weapons are not taken off the streets the way Police Scotland operate could change significantly.
He said: “If we don’t get guns off the streets the reality is that we are moving closer to police officers in Scotland carrying firearms.”
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