§ Lord Burtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Williams of Mostyn on 12 May (WA 116), how many police officers of all ranks and police civilians in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have, over the last 25 years, acquired firearms or shotguns surrendered to the police or confiscated from the public or firearms or shotgun certificate holders for their personal collection, possession or use while in the employment of the Police Service; and how many who have acquired such firearms or shotguns have passed them to relatives for collection, possession, use or sale; and [HL1980]
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Williams of Mostyn on 12 May (WA 116), whether they intend to trace all firearms or shotguns held by police officers and police civilians by enquiring how each firearm or shotgun came into their possession; and [HL1981]
When they will require, and why they have not to date required, (a) each police force, (b) the National Audit Office or (c) other independent body to investigate the ownership and possession of all firearms and shotguns possessed by police officers and police civilians over the last 25 years. [HL1982]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe Government are not aware of any instances where such weapons have been retained or passed on to relatives by police officers or police civilians. It would be for individual chief officers of police to follow up any cases involving the alleged misappropriation of firearms surrendered or confiscated by officers of their force.