§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics he has collated regarding the use of unlicensed guns in the committing of crimes during the last three years; and if he will publish them. [87850]
§ Mr. BoatengAn exercise to obtain information on homicides involving firearms was carried out in 1996 covering the years 1992 to 1994. Out of a total of 196 homicides involving the use of a firearm, it was known whether the firearm was legally or illegally held in 151 cases, and of these it was illegally held in 128 cases.
From 1997, the question as to whether firearms used in crime are legally or illegally held has been routinely asked but has been provided by the police in only 6 per cent. of cases. It was decided therefore, that the information was not complete enough to be published.