§ Mr. McCabeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the procedures adopted by the police in dealing with handguns and ancillary equipment handed in under the Firearms (Amendment) Acts; and what proportion of the equipment is(a) destroyed and (b) resold. [86452]
§ Mr. BoatengIt is a matter for individual chief officers of police to decide on the procedures necessary to deal with surrendered handguns, ammunition and ancillary equipment taking account of operational factors and local circumstances. Information on the procedures adopted by individual police forces was not collated centrally.
Surrendered equipment which qualifies for compensation is destroyed by the police when the associated compensation claims are resolved. No equipment is resold. Any items of equipment surrendered to the police but subsequently found not to qualify for compensation may be returned to their owners.