§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will 77W call for a report on the reasons why firearms were issued to police officers in Devon and Cornwall in 1979 on 114 occasions.
§ Mr. Brittan:I welcome the opportunity to correct an error in my reply to a question by the hon. Member for Barking (Miss Richardson) on 7 August.—[Vol. 990, c. 251].
The number of occasions in 1979 on which firearms were issued to police officers in Devon and Cornwall for incidents involving criminals or others known or believed to be armed was 34 and not 114. The total number for all forces was therefore 8,314.
I much regret this error, and am taking steps to minimize the risk of such mistakes occurring.