§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what licensing requirements are in place for air(a) rifles and (b) pistols held in the UK; and how many licences have been awarded each year since 1996; [38253]
(2) what restrictions there are on air (a) rifle and (b) pistol ownership in the UK; [38252]
(3) if he will make a statement on (a) the legislation and (b) the restrictions on the use and ownership of airguns. [38245]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthThe law relating to the use and possession of air guns varies according to the muzzle energy of the gun concerned.
Air guns with muzzle energies below about three quarters of a foot pound are not regarded as firearms because they are not capable of inflicting a potentially lethal injury. These are generally referred to as airsoft or BB guns and do not come under the control of the Firearms Acts excepting where it is an offence to threaten other people with an imitation firearm in such a way as to cause them to believe that unlawful violence might be used against them.
Air rifles with muzzle energies between three quarters of a foot pound and 12 foot pounds and air pistols with muzzle energies between three quarters of a foot pound and six foot pounds are classed as firearms and, although they do not have to be kept on a firearm certificate, do come under the control of the Acts.
It is an offence to make a gift of an air weapon to a person under 14 years of age or to sell one to a person under 17. It is also an offence for a person under 17 to have an uncovered air weapon in a public place or for anyone, of whatever age, to have a loaded air weapon in a public place. Trespass with an air weapon is also an offence whether in a building or on open land, as is having an air weapon with intent to damage property. Having an air weapon with intent to endanger life or to resist arrest both carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Air rifles with muzzle energies greater than 12 foot pounds fall under the control of section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968 and must be kept on a police issued firearm certificate. No central record is kept of the number of air rifles kept on a firearms certificate. Air pistols with muzzle energies of greater than six foot pounds are prohibited weapons under the terms of section 5(1)(aba) of the Act and may not be possessed 599W without the express authority of the Secretary of State for the Home Department. No authorities have been specifically issued for air pistols.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents involving the use and misuse of an airgun have been recorded each year since 1996. [38244]
§ Mr. John DenhamGeneral use of air weapons is not recorded. The number of recorded crimes in England and Wales involving air weapons in each year since 1996 is as follows:
Year Number of recorded crimes involving air weapons 1996 7,813 1997 7,506 1998–991 8,665 600W
Prison Name Total Number of Prisoners White % Black % Asian % Chinese and Other % Acklington 767 97 1 1 1 Albany 443 93 5 1 1 Altcourse 894 94 4 1 1 Ashfield 376 88 9 1 2 Ashwell 417 81 11 5 4 Askham Grange 119 78 16 2 4 Aylesbury 345 57 34 5 5 Bedford 436 75 14 8 3 Belmarsh 857 58 30 3 9 Birmingham 849 65 22 4 9 Blakenhurst 847 79 14 4 3 Blantyre House 117 75 17 4 3 Blundestone 417 55 39 2 4 Brinsford 439 71 21 5 3 Bristol 612 85 13 1 2 Brixton 742 48 41 2 8 Brockhill 154 77 17 1 5 Buckley Hall 135 83 10 4 3 Bullingdon 889 71 20 5 4 Bullwood Hall 152 68 24 0 8 Camp Hill 526 63 31 3 3 Canterbury 304 83 8 2 7 Cardiff 668 94 5 0 1 Castington 240 94 2 1 3 Channings Wood 581 93 5 I 1 Chelmsford 479 79 12 3 5 Coldingley 353 54 38 I 7 Cookham Wood 143 43 48 0 9 Dartmoor 604 90 7 1 1 Deerbolt 423 95 2 1 1 Doncaster 1,091 89 6 1 4 Dorchester 257 94 4 1 1 Dovegate 658 71 23 3 3 Dover 178 63 29 3 5 Downview 163 40 53 1 7 Drake Hall 256 86 11 2 I Durham 710 95 3 1 I East Sutton Park 96 49 36 3 11 Eastwood Park 322 77 20 0 2 Elmley 930 81 13 2 4 Erlestoke 317 91 8 2 0 Everthorpe 364 89 6 2 2 Exeter 482 97 2 0 0 Featherstone 589 75 15 4 6 Feltham 651 41 43 4 11 Ford 394 75 14 4 7 Forest Bank 917 89 6 3 2 Foston Hall 213 84 13 1 2 Frankland 639 87 8 2 3 Full Sutton 595 81 12 2 4
Year Number of recorded crimes involving air weapons 1999–2000 10,103 2000–01 10,227 1 Year ending March. There was a change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, which expanded the offences covered, and placed a greater emphasis on counting crimes in terms of numbers of victims. Numbers of recorded crimes after this date are therefore not directly comparable with previous years.