HL Deb 04 April 2003 vol 646 c158WA
The Earl of Shrewsbury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What mechanisms they have put in place to ensure that those firearms which are surrendered to the police during the current amnesty will be collected centrally within police forces to facilitate examination by the Forensic Science Service for intelligence-gathering purposes. [HL2318]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

Arrangements have been made for the police to refer weapons that they believe may have been used in crime to the Forensic Science Service (FSS) in the normal way. Police forces have also been asked to provide the Home Office with detailed information about what is handed in. This will be shared with the FSS and the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS). Weapons of most interest to the FSS and NCIS will also be transferred to a single, central location in each police force area.

The Association of Chief Police Officers does not believe, having regard to all of the above, that the cost and effort involved justifies the setting up of regional collection centres.