HC Deb 25 June 1996 vol 280 cc66-7W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in England and Wales have a conviction for illegal possession of firearms. [32876]

Mr. Maclean

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the data in the table show the number of persons convicted at all courts in 1994 for offences of illegal possession of firearms.

Number of persons found guilty at all courts of illegal possession of firearms by type of offence England and Wales 1994
Offence description Convictions
Indictable offences
Possessing etc. firearm or ammunition without certificate [Firearms Act, 1968, section 1(1)] Group I 400 Possessing etc. shot gun without certificate [Firearms Act, 1968 section 2(1) as amended by CJA 1988 section 44] Group II 305
Possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition [Firearms Act, 1968 section 5(1)] Group I 1465
Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime [Firearms Act, 1968 section 21(4)] Group II 42
Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime [Firearms Act, 1968 section 21(4)] Group II 25
Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime [Firearms Act, 1968 section 21 (4)] Group III 43
Summary offences Person under 14 having firearm or ammunition in his possession [Firearms Act, 1968 section 22(2)] Group I
Person under 15 having with him a shot gun without adult supervision [Firearms Act, 1968 section 23(3)] Group II ߞ
Person under 14 having with him an air weapon or ammunition [Firearms Act, 1968 section 22(4) Group III 7
1 Includes CS gas canisters Group I—Firearms etc., other than as described in Group II or III.

Group II—Shotguns as described in the section 1(3)(a) of the Firearms

Group III—Air weapons as described in section 1(3)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968.

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