§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences were committed by users of air weapons in 1971 and in 1975, respectively, where the value of the damage did not exceed £100.
§ Dr. SummerskillChanges in legislation have resulted in the reclassification of offences, and I regret that information in the form requested is not available. In 1975 there were 550 indictable offences recorded as known to the police in which air weapons were reported to have been used and criminal damage exceeded £20; it is not known how many similar offences in which criminal damage was £20 or less occurred in that year. Comparable figures for 1971 are not available.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the accuracy of the police authorities' reports to him on offences involving the use of air weapons as firearms before 1971 and between 1971 and 1975; and if any inadequacy should be noted in 726W considering recently published statistics and comparisons.
§ Dr. SummerskillI have no reason to doubt the accuracy of the police reports. Of course, the police can record only such offences as are brought to their notice. In interpreting the statistics, the effect of legislation needs to be taken into account. As regards offences involving airguns, the Criminal Damage Act 1971 made indictable certain offences of malicious damage which had previously been summary offences only, and this has changed the basis of recording and classification.