§ Ms AthertonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there were for possession of dangerous weapons in(a)1999, (b)2000 and (c)2001. [43416]
§ Beverley HughesThe available information for 1999 and 2000 is contained in the table and relates to convictions for offences of possession of offensive weapons, knives, firearms or explosives.
Information on court proceedings for 2001 will be available in the autumn.
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Persons convicted1at all courts of offences of possession of dangerous weapons, England and Wales 1999 and 2000 Persons convicted Offence description Statute 1999 20002 Possessing firearms or imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence or resist arrest etc. (Group I) Firearms Act 1968, section 18(1) as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972, section 28(3) 55 65 Possessing firearm or imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, or resist arrest etc. (Group II) Firearms Act 1968, section 18(1) as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972. section 28(3) — — Possessing firearm or imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, or resist arrest etc. (Group III Firearms Act 1968, section 18(1) as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972, section 28(3) 2 4 Possession of a firearm or imitation firearm, with intent to cause fear of violence (Group I) Firearms Act 1968, section 16A. (As amended by Firearms (Amendment) Act 1994) 218 279 Possession of a firearm or imitation firearm, with intent to cause fear of violence (Group II) Firearms Act 1968, section 16A. (As amended by Firearms (Amendment) Act 1994) 12 1 Possession of a firearm or imitation firearm, with intent to cause fear of violence (Group III) Firearms Act 1968, section 16A. (As amended by Firearms (Amendment) Act 1994) 35 20 Having an article with a blade or point in a public place Criminal Justice Act 1988 section 139 3,832 3,487 Having an article with a blade or point on school premises Criminal Justice Act 1988 section 139 A(1) as added by Offensive Weapons Act 1996 section 4(1) 16 44 Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or reasonable excuse on school premises Criminal Justice Act 1988 section 139(2) as added by Offensive Weapons Act 1996 section 4(1) 20 11 Possessing etc. firearms or ammunition without firearm certificate (Group I) Firearms Act 1968 section 1(l)(Group I) as amended by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. section 157, schedule 8 part III 264 216 Possessing etc. shotgun without certificate (Group II) Firearms Act 1968 section 2(l)(Group II) as amended by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. section 157 schedule 8 part III 107 94 Possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition (Group I) Firearms Act 1968 section 5(1) as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, section 157 schedule 8 part III 812 721 Carrying loaded firearm in public place etc. (Group I) Firearms Act 1968 section 19 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, section 157 schedule 8 part III 63 49 Carrying loaded firearm in public place etc. (Group II) Firearms Act 1968 section 19 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, section 157 schedule 8 part III 21 17 Trespassing with firearm or imitation firearm in a building (Group I) Firearms Act 1968 section 20(1) as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. section 157 schedule 8 part III 3 1 Trespassing with firearm or imitation firearm in a building (Group II) Firearms Act 1968 section 20(1) as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, section 157 schedule 8 part III — — Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime (Group I) Firearms Act 1968 section 21(4) as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, section 157 schedule 8 part III 79 66 Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime (Group II) Firearms Act 1968 section 21(4) as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. section 157 schedule 8 part III 12 15 Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime (Group III) Firearms Act 1968 section 21(4) as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. section 157 schedule 8 part III 47 36 Carrying loaded firearm in public place etc. (Group HI) Firearms Act 1968 section 19 176 170 Trespassing with firearm in a building (Group III Firearms Act 1968 section 20(1) — 3
Persons convicted1at all courts of offences of possession of dangerous weapons, England and Wales 1999 and 2000 Persons convicted Offence description Statute 1999 20002 Trespassing with firearm on land. (Group I) Firearms Act 1968 section 20(2) 13 12 Trespassing with firearm on land. (Group II) Firearms Act 1968 section 20(2) 3 — Trespassing with firearm on land. (Group III) Firearms Act 1968 section 20(2) 23 18 Person under 14 having firearm in his possession, without lawful authority, (Group I) Firearms Act 1968 section 22(2) 1 — Person under 15 having with him a shot gun without adult supervision, (Group II) Firearms Act 1968 section 22(3) — — Person under 14 having with him an air weapon or ammunition therefor (Group III) Firearms Act 1968 section 22(4) 12 16 Person under 17 having with him an air weapon in a public place Firearms Act 1968 section 22(5) 54 52 Total all offences 9,844 9,578 1Figures provided are on the principal offence basis. 2Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data these data are not robust at a detailed level and have been excluded from this table. 3For the purposes of recording offences, firearms are divided into the following three groups: Group I—All firearms etc. other than those described in Group II and III. Group II-Shot guns as defined in section 1(3)(1) of the Act. Group III—Air weapons as defined in section 1(3)(b) of the Act.