HC Deb 24 October 1988 vol 139 cc11-2W
Mr. Wallace

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reported crimes and convictions there were in 1987 in respect of offences involving the following weapons(a) shotguns, (b) airguns, (c) other firearms, (d) crossbows, (e) knives (f) martial arts weapons and (g) bows and arrows.

Mr. John Patten

Information on reported crimes involving firearms in 1987, by type of weapon, will be given in table 3.5 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1987", which is being published later this week. Information on convictions in 1987 for offences involving firearms, bringing up to date the information in table 7 of HOSB 2/88, is given in the table below and will be published in due course in a Home Office statistical bulletin. Corresponding information for crossbows, knives martial arts weapons and bows and arrows is not available. However, from an ad hoc survey covering 21 of the 43 police forces it is estimated that in 1987 about 12,000 (one in 12) of the recorded offences of violence against the person in England and Wales and about 8,000 (one in 4) of robberies and aggravated burglaries involved sharp instruments.

Table: Persons found guilty in 1987 of offences under the Firearms

Act 1968 by type of offence

England and Wales

Offence Number found guilty
Indictable offences
Possession of firearms with intent to endanger life or injure property 37
Using firearms with intent to resist arrest 16
Possessing firearms at time of committing, or being arrested for, an offence 52
Possessing firearms with intent to commit an indictable offence or resist arrest 135
Possessing firearms or ammunition without certificate (Section 1)1 318
Shortening a shot gun 29
Possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition 65
Carrying loaded firearm in public place 179
Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime 139
Other indictable offences 67
Total indictable offences 1,037
Summary offences
Non-compliance with condition of firearm certificate (Section 1)1 53
Possessing shot gun without certificate 451
Carrying loaded firearm in public place 490
Trespassing with firearm on land 355
Person under 17 acquiring firearm 14
Making false statement in order to procure grant or renewal of firearm or shot gun certificate 150
Other summary offences 145
Total summary offences 1,658
All offences 2,695
1 Section 1 includes all firearms (including imitations, conversions, signalling apparatus) except shot guns and air weapons as defined in sections l(3) (a) and l(3)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968.