§ Mr. NichollsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many machine action weapons, shotguns and other firearms are currently held by United Kingdom police forces; what percentage of police personnel are trained in the use of each category of weapon; what plans are in place to increase the stock90W of such weapons by category, by (a) purchase, (b) lease hire or loan and (c) other arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [68946]
§ Mr. BoatengInformation on the number of firearms held by police forces in England and Wales is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The number of firearms held by police forces in Scotland is as follows:
Police force Handgun Shotgun Rifle Other Total Central Scotland 41 4 9 16 70 Dumfries and Galloway 45 4 13 22 84 Fife 42 4 6 10 62 Grampian 72 13 8 31 124 Lothian and Borders 123 14 14 29 180 Northern 89 15 30 20 154 Strathclyde 256 14 34 54 358 Tayside 87 19 32 21 159 Total 755 87 146 203 1,191 The number of firearms held by the Royal Ulster Constabulary is as follows:
Firearms Number Pistols/Revolvers 15,016 Machine action weapons 3,457 Shotguns 31 Sniper rifles 44 Arrangements for the purchase and storage of firearms are operational matters for chief officers of police. I understand from the Association of Chief Police Officers that there are no plans for any significant increase in the number of weapons held in England and Wales. Similarly, there are no plans to increase the stocks in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Based on the most recently available figures, 5.3 per cent. of police officers in England and Wales and 4.63 per cent. of police officers in Scotland are trained in the use of firearms. This reflects the policy of using a small number of highly trained officers for firearms operations. Training reflects the range of weapons officers may need to use in dealing with firearms incidents.
All Royal Ulster Constabulary officers are trained in the use of handguns, and approximately 50 per cent. in the use of semi-automatic firearms. Shotgun and sniper rifle training involves very small numbers of officers.