§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by type the weapons used in homicides in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years for which records are available. [109327]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe following table gives the information requested in relation to firearms for England and Wales:
Homicides initially recorded by the police in which a firearm was reported to have been used, by type of weapon, England and Wales, 1994–98 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Shotgun: Long barrelled 22 18 9 12 3 Sawn Off 14 10 8 4 7 Handgun 25 39 30 39 28 Rifle 5 2 — 3 4 Air weapon — 1 — — — Other (including type not known) — — 2 1 2 Total 66 70 49 59 44 Information on other types of weapon used in homicides, such as sharp and blunt instruments, is published in Chapter 4 of Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, a copy of which is in the Library. (Figures on 410W homicides by shooting contained in Chapter 4 will differ from the figures shown mainly because they are based on currently rather than initially recorded homicides).
Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the respective Secretaries of State.