§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes involving firearms were recorded in each of the last five years; how many involved use of a firearm; how many resulted in a death; and if he will make a statement. [135810]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeDetails of firearms (excluding air weapons) used in offences, the number of occasions fired or used as a blunt instrument, and the number of homicides resulting from the use of these firearms, are given in the following table.
Year Total number of offences in which air weapons were used Number of occasions fired/used as blunt instrument1 Number of homicides 1994 6,002 1,040 66 1995 5,866 929 69 1996 6,063 896 49 1997 4,904 1,103 59 1998–99 5,209 1,203 49 1Figures of firearms fired or used as a blunt instrument in 1994, 1995 and 1996 are on the basis of returns made in those years. Because the totals of firearm offences for those years were revised upwards due to late returns by one force, figures of firearms fired or used as a blunt instrument are slight underestimates. The details for air weapons are as follows:
Year Total number of offences in which air weapons were used Number of occasions fired/used as blunt instrument1 Number of homicides 1994 7,165 6,896 0 1995 7,568 7,272 1 1996 7,813 7,449 0 1997 7,506 7,207 0 1998–99 8,665 8,230 0 1Figures of firearms fired or used as a blunt instrument in 1994, 1995 and 1996 are on the basis of returns made in those years. Because the totals of firearm offences for those years were revised upwards due to late returns by one force, figures of firearms fired or used as a blunt instrument are slight underestimates.
Authorised firearms officers: England and Wales 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 England and Wales 6,554 6,738 6,355 6,411 6,262 Avon and Somerset 157 165 161 153 150 Bedfordshire 48 46 42 50 46 Cambridgeshire 92 90 80 80 77 Cheshire 84 70 82 70 75 City of London 120 88 81 55 73 Cleveland 65 86 84 78 80 Cumbria 100 108 122 98 98 Derbyshire 130 110 100 87 77 Devon and Cornwall 140 151 147 82 119 Dorset 75 74 72 72 66 Durham 103 138 144 96 101 Dyfed-Powys 57 70 71 67 65 Essex 203 228 217 235 228 Gloucestershire 85 82 84 79 77 Greater Manchester 186 209 182 217 218 Gwent 55 70 59 64 68 Hampshire 104 106 112 110 111 Hertfordshire 43 42 41 43 52 Humberside 104 90 102 205 97