§ Mr. Fordasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the total number of offences known to the police in which air weapons were 104W fired causing injury or damage during 1976 and 1977 were committed in circumstances where the offender was in breach of any of the following provisions of the Firearms Act 1968 prior to causing the injury or damage; section 19 carrying a loaded air weapon in a public place, section 20 trespassing with a firearm, section 22(4) person under 14 possessing an air weapon other than on private premises, section 22(5) person under 17 having uncovered air weapon in a public place; and what effect he would expect from a campaign of publicity and rigorous enforcement of the same provisions.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe statistical information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. More publicity and stricter enforcement of the law would no doubt reduce the misuse of air weapons.