§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people were convicted of offences involving airguns during 2001–02; what proportion of those convictions were for criminal damage; how many of those convicted of criminal damage were aged under 17 years; and what the ages were of all those convicted of offences more serious than criminal damage involving airguns; [90654]
(2) what proportion of those convicted of firearms offences during 2001–02 (a) had no previous criminal convictions, (b) had served sentences in custody and (c) were in each age decile from age 10 upwards. [90655]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthThe information requested is not collected centrally. However, 240 persons aged 10 and under 17 years were found guilty of offences in England and Wales during 2001 under the various Firearms Acts 1968 to 1997 (11 per cent. of all persons found guilty of firearms offences). The equivalent figures for those persons aged 17 and under 21 was 455 (21 per cent.); and 1,467 persons aged 21 and over (68 per cent.).
Information for 2002 is due for publication in the late autumn of 2003.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of illegal gun possession crime were recorded in(a) Lancashire, (b) the north-west of England, (c) England, (d) Wales and (e) the UK in (i) 2002 and (ii) each of the preceding five years. [90749]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthNumbers of illegal firearm possession offences are not collected separately. Offences of illegal possession of firearms are included in the recorded crime classifications of 'Possession of Weapons' and 'Firearms Acts Offences' (Home Office offence classifications 8B and 81 respectively), but other offences are also included under these classifications, for example, possession of knives and illegal trading in firearms. These offence classifications were used from 1 April 1998, and the figures for England and Wales since that date are given in the table. A breakdown of the offences included under these classifications is included on the Home Office website at: http:// www. homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/countrules.html
Financial year Possession of weapons Firearms acts offences 1998–99 23,635 3,325 1999–2000 23,792 3,143 2000–01 24,552 3,531 2001–02 28,740 3,205 Some police forces adopted the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard in advance of its national implementation on 1 April 2002, which will have the effect of increasing the number of crimes counted.
Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.