HC Deb 18 January 1993 vol 217 cc7-8W
Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions(a) in 1992, (b) in 1987, (c) in 1982 and (d) in 1977, Metropolitan and City of London police officers were authorised to carry firearms in the course of their duty; and on how many occasions those firearms were used.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The only readily available information is contained in the following table:

Year Number of operations1 Number of occasions when shots were fired
1991
City of London 71 0
Metropolitan 1,520 6
1987
City of London 16 0
Metropolitan 1,248 3
1982
City of London 255 0
Metropolitan 6,035 1
1 The figure for 1982 is for the number of occasions on which firearms were issued. From 1987 onwards, the figures are for the number of firearms operations.

I will write to the hon. Member when the information for 1992 is available.

Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what distinction is drawn between the use of concealed weapons and rifles, carbines or semi-automatic weapons when authorisation is granted to Metropolitan police and City of London police officers to carry firearms; and on what basis.

Mr. Charles Wardle

Firearms may be issued only on the authority of a senior officer, to an authorised firearms officer. Decisions as to whether a firearm is concealed when carried, and the type of firearm, are based on an assessment of operational requirements.

Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded incidents of assaults against Metropolitan and City of London police officers occurred in(a) 1992, (b) 1987, (c) 1982, and (d) 1977; and in how many of these incidents firearms were used against police officers.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The numbers of officers in the Metropolitan police who have suffered serious assault necessitating periods off work are as follows:

Year Number of officers Number of incidents involving firearms
1977 779 7
1982 464 1
1987 752 20
1992 n/a n/a

There were 12 assaults on officers in the City of London police in 1992, none of which involved firearms. The City of London police do not hold a record of the number of assaults on police officers prior to 1991.