HL Deb 05 July 1979 vol 401 cc501-3
Lord GISBOROUGH

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied with the state of the law relating to the control and use of air guns and crossbows.

The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE, HOME OFFICE (Lord Belstead)

My Lords, air weapons account for a high proportion of those indictable offences known to the police in which firearms were reported to have been used, but they are rarely used in serious crime. We propose to consider whether the existing age limits for the purchase and possession of air weapons need altering.

Lord GISBOROUGH

My Lords, I welcome in particular the last part of that reply. Is the Minister aware that I have here a sheaf of cuttings with headings such as: Gun vandal hits woman in eye "; Youth fired rifle at girl "; Child shot in face "; Surgeon's plea on air guns and so on? Is the Minister also aware that air rifles are lethal? They frequently maim, blind or kill.

Lord BELSTEAD

My Lords, my noble friend is absolutely right to take this Question seriously. In 1976, and again in 1977, there were over 2,000 injuries connected with the commission of in- dictable offences. None the less, I consider that the problem of the misuse of air weapons, particularly by young people, is one more of enforcement than of inadequacy of existing controls.

Lord KILMARNOCK

My Lords, can the noble Lord tell me whether the Government have any intention of limiting the sale of these potentially lethal weapons by mail order firms?

Lord BELSTEAD

My Lords, this is a matter which we will be considering along with all other matters connected with air weapons.

Lord DERWENT

My Lords, when the Government are looking at this question will they bear in mind that in the case of a shotgun, for which a certificate is necessary, the police have to be satisfied that the owner of the shotgun has somewhere to use it? If he has nowhere to use it he will not get a certificate; he can be only a poacher or trespasser. At present one can buy an air gun and if one is to use it at all one is almost certainly either trespassing or poaching. Will the Government bear this fact in mind?

Lord BELSTEAD

Yes, my Lords; we most certainly will.

Earl GREY

My Lords, will the noble Lord include in the consideration the sale of catapults, as in my view they are lethal weapons?

Lord BELSTEAD

My Lords, I do not think that that comes quite within the scope of the Question.

Lord LEATHERLAND

My Lords, can the noble Lord go a little farther than he has done on the question of air guns? Is he aware of the fact that my back garden opens on to Epping Forest; I walk in the forest frequently, and I encounter large numbers of reckless youngsters with air guns over their shoulders? They are very dangerous indeed.

Lord BELSTEAD

My Lords, I agree; the noble Lord is right about this. But it is also right to bear in mind that the misuse of an air weapon, or indeed a crossbow, would almost certainly involve the commission of one or more offences under existing law. These might include offences against the person (of varying degrees of gravity) or the offence of possession of an offensive weapon.

Lord ELWYN-JONES

My Lords, have there ever been any prosecutions in regard to those matters? The statement of the law is correct, but one does not hear of frequent prosecutions.

Lord BELSTEAD

No, my Lords; one does not.

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