§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of occasions on which firearms were issued to policemen in each of the police authorities in England and Wales in 1978, 1979 and 1980; and what was the number of occasions on which they were used.
§ Mr. MayhewI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 10 April to a question by the hon. Member for Battersea, South (Mr. Dubs).
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the number of police officers in England and Wales who receive training in the use of firearms.
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§ Mr. MayhewIt is for individual chief officers of police to decide how many police officers should be trained in the use of firearms. Figures are not held centrally.
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the criteria under which firearms are now issued to policemen and the level of seniority at which authorisation for such issue can be given.
§ Mr MayhewThe issue of firearms to police officers is an operational matter for the chief officer of police. The general policy is that firearms are issued only when there is reason to suppose that a police officer may have to face an armed man and on a limited scale for protection purposes.