§ Q49. Mr. Beithasked the Prime Minister whether she will give consideration to the suggestions made by the chief constable of Northumbria for measures to deter criminals from carrying guns.
§ The Prime MinisterAll suggestions made by chief constables for curbing violent crime merit close attention. As regards those of the chief constable of Northumbria, I wholly accept that severe punishment must be available for offences involving firearms. The law already provides maximum penalties up to life imprisonment for such offences and where firearms are used in the commission of other offences such penalties apply in addition to any380W other sentence imposed. The courts have a well-established policy of imposing severe sentences for offences where firearms are involved.