§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to reduce the number of crimes carried out with the use of air guns. [119273]
§ Caroline FlintThe Government are determined to tackle the increasing problem of air weapon misuse. We are increasing from 14 years to 17 the age at which a person can own an air weapon and introducing further controls on their use without adult supervision. In addition, we are introducing a new offence of having an air weapon in a public place without lawful cause or reasonable excuse. These measures will mean that any unsupervised young person seen with an air weapon can be arrested before any further offence can be committed. In addition, any adult who has one in public may be asked to explain himself and, if he does not have a good reason for having the weapon, arrested.