§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) deaths and (b) injuries involving air weapons there were in each of the last five years; [128342]
(2) how many criminal offences, broken down by category, involving (a) replica guns and (b) air weapons, there were in each of the last five years. [128343]
§ Caroline FlintThe latest available numbers of recorded crimes by offence category in which imitation weapons and air weapons were used are given in the tables. A weapon is said to be used in an offence if it is fired, used as a blunt instrument or in a threat.
Number of offences in which imitation weapons were used Violence against
the person
Robbery Burglary Criminal damage
Other offences
19971 186 16 3 38 1998–99 354 163 14 2 33 1999–2000 495 228 22 3 65 2000–01 494 227 15 17 34 2001–02 773 277 31 87 33 1 Calendar year: other years to end of March
Number of offences in which air weapons were used Violence against
the person
Robbery Burglary Criminal damage
Other offences 19971 1,449 99 51 5,798 109 1998–99 1,937 83 81 6,362 202 1999–2000 2,438 91 20 7,330 224 2000–01 2,217 116 32 7,674 188 2001–02 2,366 161 22 9,559 232 1Calendar year; other years to end of March There was a change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, which would have had the effect of increasing the number of offences counted. Similarly, some police forces adopted the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard in advance of its national implementation on 1 April 2002, and this may also have tended to increase the number of crimes counted, particularly in 2001–02.
The number of deaths and injuries resulting from recorded air weapon offences in the last five years are given in the following table:
Fatal injuries Serious injuries1 Slight injuries 1997 0 129 1,065 1998–99 0 133 1,381 1999–2000 0 171 1,806 2000–01 1 166 1,654 2001–02 2 166 1,741 1 A serious injury is one which necessitated detention in hospital or involved fractures, concussion, severe general shock, penetration by a projectile or multiple wounds.