§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what arrangements are in force to require each police force to keep a detailed inventory of its firearms; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what arrangements are in force to require each police force to ensure that, following operations involving firearms, the same number of weapons are returned as were issued; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what arrangements are in force to require each police force to ensure that its supply of firearms does not fall into non-authorised hands; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggEvery police force armoury is required to keep a detailed inventory of all weapons held within that force. When firearms are issued for police operations, they are issued only to those officers who produce a current authorisation certificate.
All forces maintain a separate record which details the type of weapon issued, its serial number, the name of the officer to whom it is issued and the number of rounds of ammunition issued. Each entry is signed and counter-signed. Upon return of the weapon, the issuing entry is 709W checked and a separate entry is made showing the number of rounds returned or used. If any rounds are used a report is completed by the firearms officer. Again, each entry is signed and counter-signed.
As part of its annual inspection of police forces, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary examines closely both force policy and the administrative arrangements relating to the storage, issue and use of police firearms.