Air Weapons (Hansard, 10 July 2002)

§ Helen Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what recent representations he has received on banning the private ownership of air weapons; and if he will make a statement; [67154]
(2) what recent representations he has received on increasing the age at which unsupervised use of air weapons is allowed; and if he will make a statement; [67155]
(3) what steps he is taking to control the advertising of air weapons; and if he will make a statement. [67158]

§ Mr. Bob Ainsworth
/holding answer 8 July 2002]: We have recently received a number of representations about the private ownership of air weapons, both for and against banning them or changing the age limits for unsupervised use.
The Government totally condemn the irresponsible use of air weapons and are presently reviewing the overall effectiveness of the current range of controls, including those regulating the age at which air weapons can be used without supervision and the way in which they are sold.
An absolute ban on the ownership of air weapons was considered by the Home Affairs Committee in their second report on controls over firearms. They concluded that such a ban would not be appropriate, but did recommend that the existing laws relating to air weapons be rigorously enforced and that this should be coupled with a programme of education on their safe and 1063W responsible use. We accepted that recommendation and are currently considering advice from the Firearms Consultative Committee on how best to take this forward.
There are no statutory restrictions at present on the advertising of air weapons. Generally, advertising in the non-broadcast media is subject to self-regulation under the advertising industry's British Codes of Advertising and Sales Promotion, compliance with which is overseen by the Advertising Standards Authority. The authority will investigate all complaints of non-compliance with the codes, including any about advertisements which appear to condone or are likely to provoke violence or antisocial behaviour.

§ Helen Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for selling an air weapon to a person under the age of 18(a) were commenced and (b) resulted in a conviction in each of the past five years. [67153]

§ Mr. Denham
[holding answer 8 July 2002]: The available information is contained in the table and relates to 'selling or letting on hire an air weapon or ammunition to a person under 17'.
Statistics for 2001 will be available in the autumn.

Persons proceeded against and found guilty at all courts for selling an air weapon or ammunition to a person under the age of 17, England and Wales 1996 to 2000^1.2

Offence description/Statute Persons proceeded against Persons found guilty

Selling or letting on hire an air weapon or ammunition to a person under 17: Firearms Act 1968, Sec 24(1)

1996 4 2

1997 2 1

1998 4 3

1999 1 1

2000 — —

¹These data are on the principal offence basis.

²Staffordshire police were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from this table.

Persons proceeded against and found guilty at all courts for selling an air weapon or ammunition to a person under the age of 17, England and Wales 1996 to 2000^1.2
Offence description/Statute	Persons proceeded against	Persons found guilty
Selling or letting on hire an air weapon or ammunition to a person under 17: Firearms Act 1968, Sec 24(1)
1996	4	2
1997	2	1
1998	4	3
1999	1	1
2000	—	—
¹These data are on the principal offence basis.
²Staffordshire police were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from this table.