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Firearms are taken to be involved in an incident if they are fired, used as a blunt instrument against a person, or used in a threat. Most offences involving a firearm are violent crimes and more than half (55%) occurred in just three metropolitan forces: the Metropolitan Police, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands.
What are the numbers? • In 2006/07 there were a provisional 9,608 firearm offences recorded in England and Wales, a 13 per cent decrease on 2005/06, and the lowest number recorded since 2000/01. • Firearms were used in 58 homicides, nine offences (or 18%) more than the 49 recorded in 2005/06. • There were 3,891 firearm robberies in 2006/07, a four per cent decrease from the previous year. Firearms were used in just under four per cent (3.8%) of all robbery offences recorded by police. • There were 413 firearm offences that resulted in serious injury in 2006/07, a 13 per cent decrease over 2005/06.
How many people carry guns in England and Wales? • Possession of weapons offences decreased by two per cent, from 35,590 in 2005/06 to 34,707 in 2006/07. • It’s hard to say how many people carry a gun, as one person may have more than one possession offence.
Knife Crime • Since 2000, young people aged 10 to 17 have accounted for one fifth of those who have been convicted of unlawfully carrying a knife. • Weapons were used in 24 per cent of all violent crimes in 2006/07. • The most common types of weapons used were knives (used in seven per cent of all incidents of violence), hitting implements10 (6%), and glass or bottles (5%).
Imitation Guns • Imitation weapons were used in 2,493 offences in 2006/07, 24 per cent or 782 offences fewer than in the previous year.
Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 • It is an offence to sell a knife to a person aged under 18 (increased from 16). • It is an offence to sell an imitation gun to a person aged under 18. • A doubling of the maximum sentence for carrying an imitation gun in public without reasonable excuse, from 6 to 12 months. • Unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm means five years in jail, and this will now also apply to people who use others to look after their weapons for them.
Do you think these laws are being put into force and will they make a difference? • Is an 18 year old more responsible/less likely to use a gun than a 16 year old?
Three-point plan to tackle gun crime • The Home Secretary announced the three-point plan following a gun crime summit at 10 Downing Street, chaired by the Prime Minister and attended by senior police officers, representatives from community groups and voluntary organisations. • The Home Secretary announced a review of the legislation on gangs, guns and knives, focussing in particular on gangs. The review will cover: sentencing policy generally, including in relation to juveniles; gun supply issues; gang membership; what new powers might be needed; and other relevant issues.
The Home Secretary also welcomed the creation of a London Youth Crime Prevention Board by the London Community Safety Partnership to bring the Met Police, local authorities, the Youth Justice Board and community groups in London together to tackle gun, gang and other youth crime issues in the capital.
The Three-point Plan: • Policing – ensuring the police are equipped to tackle gun crime • Powers – giving the police and courts the powers to deal with offenders • Prevention – empowering communities to take action themselves to prevent gun crime and gang culture and offering support to parents to challenge their children’s behaviour.
Should children and young people be involved in similar summits in the future? • If so what would you like to contribute? • ‘Young people carry real or imitation firearms in an attempt to boost their image or from a mistaken idea about self-protection.’ Do you agree?
