§ Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were murdered by firearms in England and Wales during each of the last two years, or financial years if more convenient, to the latest available date; and, of these murders, how many were committed during armed robberies and what were the weapons used in each case.
§ Mr. MayhewIn a case of homicide it is not possible in the absence of a court decision to distinguish between offences of murder, manslaughter and infanticide. The number of offences currently recorded as homicide by shooting in 1978 and 1979 is published in table 10.5 of "Criminal Statistics England and Wales 1979" (Cmnd. 8098); a separate offence is recorded for each victim of homicide. The number committed in the course or furtherance of theft and the types of weapons involved in such cases is given in the following table; information for 1980 is not yet available.
Offences currently recorded as homicide by shooting in the course or furtherance of theft, by type of weapon: 274W
England and Wales Number of offences Type of weapon 1978 1979 Pistol 1 — Shotgun: long barrelled 4 3 sawn-off 4 1 Total 9 4