§ Mr. SutcliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the increase in number of CS gas canister attacks on the public; and what advice he is giving concerning them. [21550]
(2) what action he proposes to take to stop CS gas canister attacks in public places. [21553]
§ Mr. MacleanUnder section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968, as amended, devices capable of discharging a noxious substance are classed as prohibited weapons. We consider that CS gas canisters are covered by the terms of section 5(1)(b). Their possession, acquisition, purchase, manufacture, sale and transfer are prohibited without the authority of the Secretary of State.
No information is available centrally on numbers of attacks involving CS gas canisters. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 has increased the maximum penalty for the unauthorised possession of a CS gas weapon, or of any other prohibited weapon, to ten years imprisonment.
753WThe Government take crime prevention very seriously. The Home Office booklet, "Your Practical Guide to Crime Prevention", gives detailed advice on how people can reduce the risk of assault. More than 17 million copies have been distributed to date.