HC Deb 06 March 1980 vol 980 cc290-2W
Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many deaths from gunshot wounds occurred in England and Wales in 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975 and in each of the last four years for which figures are available; and how many of these in each year, for which the figures are provided, are classified as murder, manslaughter, suicide, accidental and other, respectively;

(2) how many deaths from gunshot wounds inflicted by shotguns and how many by other firearms occurred in England and Wales in each of the last four years for which figures are available; and how many of these in each year, for which the figures are provided, and in each case, are classified as murder, manslaughter, suicide, accidental and other, respectively.

Mr. Brittan

The number of deaths by shooting in England and Wales in the years 1968 to 1978 which are currently recorded as homicide is published in table 9.5 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1978 (Cmnd. 7670). Corresponding figures are not available for the years 1950, 1955, 1960 and 1965.

In a case of homicide, it is not possible in the absence of a court decision to distinguish between offences of murder and manslaughter. The available information about the types of homicide and the types of weapons involved is shown in the following table. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services that other information distinguishing deaths attributable to gunshot wounds is not readily available for the years in question.

DEATHS BY SHOOTING CURRENTLY RECORDED AS HOMICIDE
England and Wales Number of victims
Current classification of offence Total Type of weapons
1970 1975 1976 1977 1978 Shotgun Other weapons
1970 1975 1976 1977 1978 1970 1975 1976 1977 1978
Murder 7 15 10 3 10 4 9 8 1 7 3 6 2 2 3
Section 2 manslaughter 3 10 5 5 11 3 6 5 5 6 — 4 — — 5
Other manslaughter 5 6 10 10 2 4 5 8 5 1 1 1 2 5 1
Suspect committed suicide 7 7 15 7 4 4 6 9 3 3 3 1 6 4 1
Suspect died — — — 3 — — — — — — — — — 3 —
No proceedings taken against suspect on advice of DPP — — — — 2 — — — — 2 — — — — —
Court case pending — — — — 1 — — — — 1 — — — — —
No suspect 1 5 3 — 5 — 2 2 — 3 1 3 1 — 2
Total 23 43 43 28 35 15 28 32 14 23 8 13 11 14 12