§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many incidents of gun-related crime were recorded in(a)Lancashire, (b) the North West of England, (c) England, (d) Wales and (e) the UK in each year since 1997; [90965]
(2) how many people have been (a) injured and (b) killed by guns in (i) Lancashire and (ii) the North West of England in (a) 2002 and (b) each of the previous five years. [90977]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthAvailable published data on the number of recorded homicide offences in which firearms were reported to have been used are given in the table.
Number of homicide offences involving firearms Lancashire North West of England 1997 1 11 1998–99 1 5 1999–2000 2 14 2000–01 2 15 Note
Figures for injuries are not available.
The total number of recorded crimes in which firearms (including air weapons) were reported to have been used are given in the table.
826W
Lancashire North West of England England Wales 1997 163 1,751 11,816 594 1998–99 179 2,308 13,283 591 1999–2000 227 2,619 16,234 712 2000–01 233 2,983 17,083 614 These firearms offences were published on a calendar year basis up to 1997, and on a financial year basis thereafter. The figures for the North West and England for 2000–01 have been slightly revised since they were published.
There was a change of counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998. Numbers of recorded crimes before and after this date are therefore not directly comparable. Similarly, some police forces adopted the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard in advance of its national implementation; for example, Lancashire did so in 2000–01. This will mean that the figures for 2000–01 for Lancashire, the North West and England in the above table will not be directly comparable with the previous year. Both of these changes in recorded crime will have the effect of increasing the number of crimes counted.
Information relating to Scotland Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland (Helen Liddell) and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Paul Murphy).