§ Kate HoeyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of the firearms handed in during the amnesty of 2003 were(a) replica weapons, (b) antique or obsolete weapons, (c) toy guns, (d) blank firing airguns and (e) other types of firearms; [185400]
(2) how many firearms handed in during the amnesty of 2003 did not need a certificate for possession; [185401]
(3) whether people who handed in firearms during the 2003 amnesty that did not need a certificate were advised that they could lawfully keep them. [185402]
§ Caroline FlintA detailed breakdown of the number and type of guns handed into the police was placed in the Library on 15 July 2003. These figures show that a total of 43,908 guns were handed in, including 13,974 air weapons and 9,480 imitations. It is not possible to break down these figures further into the categories requested.
The primary purpose of the amnesty was to enable people to surrender illegally held guns and ammunition. Given the stricter laws which were being introduced in relation to the possession of air weapons and imitation firearms in a public place without reasonable excuse, it also provided an opportunity for young people, and others, to hand in guns which, while not illegal, were perhaps being held for criminal or anti-social purposes, or were no longer wanted. It was for individual forces to determine the procedures to be adopted for the surrender of all such items.