§ Mr. Ernie RossTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many deaths in England and Wales were as a result of assault with(a) a household axe, (b) a kitchen knife, (c) a Stanley knife and (d) a coal hammer in each year since 1980;
(2) how many convictions for grievous bodily harm in England and Wales were as a result of assault with (a) a household axe, (b) a kitchen knife, (c) a Stanley knife and (d) a coal hammer in each year since 1980.
§ Mr. John PattenInformation on the exact weapon used is not collected for cases of homicide, although the table gives the number of homicides each year between 1980 and 1988 where the principle weapon was a "sharp instrument" or a "blunt instrument"; the figures for 1989 are not yet available.
Information is not collected centrally on the type of weapon used in offences which lead to grievous bodily harm convictions.
Year Sharp instrument Blunt instrument 1980 158 62 1981 175 55 1982 191 68 1983 150 68 1984 187 76 1985 180 65 1986 220 67 1987 202 82 1988 198 49