§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there were against people for(a) dealing in and (b) possessing controlled drugs in Lancashire for each year since 1992. [1635]
§ Mr. MichaelThe available information is given in the table.
However, a special exercise was conducted last year, and subsequently updated this year, to find out further information on homicides involving firearms.
This covered the three years 1992 to 1994, and out of a total of 90 homicides involving the use of a handgun, information was available in 76 cases to show that seven persons were killed with a. 22 calibre handgun. It is not known, however, what type of. 22 cartridge was used.
347WFor the remaining 69 cases, the calibre of the handguns involved, as reported by the police forces concerned, is as follows:
Calibre Number of handguns 9mm 12 .32 20 .38 17 .45 9 .357 4 .375 1 .445 1 .455 3 .635 2