HC Deb 14 May 2004 vol 421 cc602-3W
Bob Spink

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought for offences involving air guns in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [172444]

Caroline Flint

The available information is given in the table.

Statistics for 2003 will be published in the autumn.

Persons1 proceeded against for offences relating to air weapons, England and Wales 1998 to 2002
Offence description Statute 1998 1999 20002 2001 2002
Supplying air weapon to person denied them under

Section 21

Ibid Section 21 (5) as amended by the Criminal

Justice and Public Order Act 1994, section 157

Sch. 8 part III

1
Carrying loaded air weapon in public place etc. Ibid Section 19 246 237 213 241 186
Trespassing with air weapon in a building Ibid Section 20(1) 1 2 6 1 2
Trespassing with air weapon on land Ibid Section 20(2) 76 35 30 35 32
Person under 17 acquiring air weapon Ibid Section 22(1) 6 3 3 2
Person under 14 having with him an air weapon or

ammunition therefore

Ibid Section 22(4) 9 13 21 12 7
Person under 17 having with him an air weapon in a

public place

Ibid Section 22(5) 60 68 66 66 51
Person under 14 making improper use of air weapon

when under supervision

Ibid Section 23(1) 2 1 1 1
Person supervising person under 14, permitting

improper use of air weapon

Ibid Section 23(1) 2
Selling or letting on hire an air weapon to person

under 17

Ibid Section 24(1)
Supplying air weapon to person under 14 Ibid Section 24(4) 1 2 4 2 2
Supplying air weapon to person drunk or insane Ibid Section 25
Failure to hand over air weapon or ammunition on

demand by constable

Ibid Section 47(2)
Total 696 657 647 592 540
1 These data are on the principal offence: basis. 2 Excludes figures for Staffordshire.

Bob Spink

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on preventing(a) crimes and (b) accidents involving air guns. [172447]

Caroline Flint

The Government are determined to tackle all aspects of gun crime and the underlying culture that supports it, working with the police and other statutory agencies, the voluntary sector and local communities, to tackle gun crime on a variety of fronts.

We have recently introduced measures in the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003 raising the age limit to 17 for owning air weapons and making it an offence to have an air weapon in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse. This means that the police can now challenge anybody seen in a public place with an air weapon and arrest them if they are unable to give a satisfactory explanation.

The Home Office produces a leaflet on the safe use of air weapons and arrangements have been made for a copy to be included with all new purchases.