Offensive Weapons: Control (Hansard, 15 December 1986)

§ Baroness Phillips
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Minister of State, Home Office (The Earl of Caithness)
My Lords, the sale of firearms is already strictly controlled under the Firearms Act 1968. We announced on 3rd December that we intend to issue a guidance notice to all traders urging them not to sell crossbows to persons under 17. We are in favour of a statutory prohibition of this kind and a Crossbows Bill which seeks to do this was introduced in another place by my honourable friend the Member for Leicester East last week. We have already issued a guidance notice to traders concerning the sale of martial arts equipment to young persons.

§ Baroness Phillips
My Lords, I should like to thank the Minister for that reply. May I ask him whether or not he is aware that there is increasing concern about the number of shops selling these weapons which are opening all over the country? They are often sited near schools, and young people purchase these kinds of things. There is not sufficient control. As we are careful to see that people under the age of 18 do not buy alcohol or tobacco, it seems curious that we are not so careful in seeing that they do not buy these weapons.

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, we are very concerned about this matter. The Firearms Act 1968 applies very strict controls. Together with the Martial Arts Commission we issued a guidance to traders earlier this year which we shall be seeking to reinforce in due course. In addition to the action referred to in my original reply, we also propose to prepare and issue a code of safe practice for crossbow users.

§ Lord Mellish
My Lords, is the Minister aware that recent statistics show that most muggings, robberies and acts of violence are committed by people using a knife? This is the most appalling weapon. I should like to hear from the Minister whether or not this situation can be controlled. Certainly I know that the police are very worried indeed.

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Mellish, has touched on a very difficult area. The law already makes it an offence for a person to have with him in a public place any offensive weapon without lawful authority or reasonable excuse. All knives are dangerous in the wrong hands, including carving knives, pen knives, and Stanley knives, all of which have legitimate uses. It would be difficult to ban the sale of a particular type of knife. We will continue to keep the law relating to all types of offensive weapons under close review.

§ Lord Mishcon
My Lords, is the Minister aware that one of the most dangerous matters here is that mail order advertisements are published offering the most offensive weapons and are actually being directed to young members of a household? I should like to ask the Minister whether anything can be done about this?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, the Firearms Act 1968 applies to all purchases of firearms regardless of the method of sale. We expect traders to act responsibly concerning the sale of such items. With regard to crossbows and items of martial arts, we have circulated the traders concerning the sale of martial arts equipment, which I have already referred to, and the Crossbows Bill will help if it receives parliamentary approval.

§ Lord Mishcon
My Lords, I know the Minister will forgive me if I return to the main burden of what I was saying which was related to the question of advertising and not to retail sale. Are the Government aware of the dangers of this situation and is anything being done about it?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, I apologise to the noble Lord; I thought he was referring not only to advertising but also to mail order. A point about mail order is that the sale of firearms, as in a shop, is closely regulated. We shall continue to monitor the situation very closely but there are no plans at the moment to ban mail order sales.

Viscount St. Davids
My Lords, is the Minister aware that in the Navy there are regulations about the length of knife that can be carried? Indeed, if one had a longer knife one deliberately had the end broken off. I am sure that the noble Lord will not be aware that I carried a knife for rigging purposes. I deliberately broke the end off, making it cease to be a weapon of offence and usable only as a useful knife. I should like to ask whether or not some regulations can be produced to ensure that knives cannot be sold if they are useful as weapons?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, although the noble Viscount broke off the end of his knife, I am sure it was still an offensive weapon. However, as it had a legitimate use its possession would have been very difficult to prosecute.

§ Baroness Phillips
My Lords, is the Minister aware that many shops are now opening which sell only these offensive weapons? Concern about it is shown by many people. There is one particular shop which the local people do not want and the power to close it rests with the Minister. Can I hope that the Minister will exercise any power that he has over his noble friends and right honourable friends to make this point? It is not a question of regulation: we all know that there are not enough inspectors to travel around to inspect all the shops that are opening.

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, I should be very grateful if any specific instance such as the one the noble Baroness just mentioned to the House could be brought to my attention, and I will ensure that it is brought to the attention of my right honourable friend the Home Secretary. Of course, before registering a firearms dealer the chief officer of police must be satisfied that he is of good character and that the necessary arrangements for firearms are satisfactory.

§ Lord John-Mackie
My Lords, it is not difficult to make a crossbow. What is the position on that?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, if the noble Lord wishes to become a member of a club and use a crossbow at a target under supervision, I am sure that that will be acceptable.

§ Lord Dulverton
My Lords, is my noble friend aware of the deep concern felt by the Red Deer Commission and a number of other organisations concerned with 4 animals over the use of crossbows against wild animals, which is not allowed by law? Concern is felt about the leniency of sentences passed on people caught using them, when that happens, which is not often. May I quote as an example—

Noble Lords
No!

§ Lord Dulverton
My Lords, is my noble friend aware of the red deer stag which was found somewhere near Glencoe a couple of years ago which was obviously in bad shape and was put out of its misery by a local stalker? It was found to have up its nostril an eight-inch crossbow bolt which had been there for several days.

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, we deplore the misuse of crossbows or any other instruments, such as guns or ordinary long bows, which can be used to maim or hurt animals. The sentencing of a convicted person is entirely a matter for the judiciary.