§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many handguns are held as personal protection weapons in each region of the United Kingdom. [41797]
§ Mr. MichaelIn England, Scotland and Wales there are no handguns held as personal protection weapons. Handguns are prohibited under the terms of section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 (as amended) and as such may be held only with the express authority of the Secretary of State. It is not the policy to issue that authority for firearms for personal protection.
165WIn Northern Ireland, handguns for personal protection may be held on certificates issued by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Currently, there are some 9,800 handguns so held. Certificates are granted only to those people the chief officer believes to be under serious threat of terrorist attack and are not granted for the protection of money or property. As the threat of terrorist violence recedes, the number of firearms held for this purpose is expected to decline.