HC Deb 10 December 1987 vol 124 cc235-6W
Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons have been the victims of murder and manslaughter in cases where a firearm was used which was not known to have been legally held in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available;

(2) how many persons have been the victims of manslaughter or murder by persons legally holding firearms, in each of the last 10 years for which records are available; how many of these murders were committed by persons related to the victim; and if he will provide a breakdown of the type of firearms used in each year;

(3) how many persons have been the victims of manslaughter or murder by legally held firearms stolen from their owners in each of the last 10 years for which figures were available; in how many of these cases such deaths occurred when other crimes were being attempted or carried out; and what information he has as to the type of weapons used in each year.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Information on offences of homicide by shooting and on the type of firearm involved is published annually in tables 4.3 and 3.6 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" copies of which are in the Library; the latest issue (Cm. 233) gives figures for 1976–86. The available information on the relationship between victim and suspect for all homicides by shooting and on homicides by shooting in furtherance of theft or gain is given in the tables. Information on whether the firearms involved were legally held, illegally held or stolen is not available centrally; corresponding information for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Table 1
Offences currently1 recorded as homicide where the victim was related to the principal suspect by type of firearm
Number of offences
Year Total Type of firearm
Long-barrelled shotgun Sawn-off shotgun Pistol Rifle Other
1982 12 9 1 2
1983 22 14 2 5 1
1984 19 19 1 9
1985 29 10 2 2 5
1986 23 15 5 3
1 As at 1 June 1987.

Table 2
Offences currently1 recorded as homicide where the victim was related to the principal suspect by type of firearm
Number of offences
Year Total Type of firearm
Long-barrelled shotgun Sawn-off shotgun Pistol Rifle Other
1982 3 1 1 1
1983 3 1 1 1
1984 6 3 2 1
1985 6 1 2 3
1986 2 1 1
1 As at 1 June 1987.

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