§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases known to the police during the two years ended on the latest date for which the figures are available imitation firearms have been used in the course of or in furtherance of crime; and whether he is satisfied with the existing regulations regarding the sale of imitation firearms.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsThe number of offences recorded as known to the police in England and Wales in which an imitation firearm was used was 80 in 1972 and 86 in 1973. The sale of imitation firearms is not subject to any restriction, and as I stated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Essex, South-East (Sir B. Braine) on 27th January—[Vol. 885, c.5–6.] I am not satisfied that control of sale would be practicable.