Crimes involving weapons
Crimes involving firearms
Crimes involving the use of firearms are rare – they make up less than one per cent of all recorded crime.
Gun-related crime is serious; not only does it kill and injure people, it also produces an atmosphere of fear and intimidation in communities. It is often linked to gang activity and to illegal drug dealing.
Statistics on crimes involving firearms
We collect data from police forces in England and Wales on recorded crimes involving the use of firearms, or where these have been reported stolen. Key information collected includes:
- the type of firearm used
- whether it is fired (as opposed to being used as a threat or a blunt instrument)
- the severity of injury caused
- location of armed robberies
We also collect data from police forces in England and Wales on crimes involving the use of knives or other sharp instruments, for certain violent offences. We publish these firearm and knife statistics annually in the Crime in England and Wales supplementary volume on serious crime, with summary information in the quarterly updates.
Tackling the supply of and use of illegal firearms
We are working with the police, other government departments and agencies to tackle gun-related crime and we have the strictest legislation in Europe. We have:
- a minimum five-year sentence for people convicted of possessing an illegal firearm
- made it an offence to possess an air weapon or imitation firearm in public without legal authority or reasonable excuse
- increased the age limit for possession of air rifles to 17
- prohibited certain air weapons that are easily converted to fire live ammunition
- and we are looking at the issues relating to gangs, including how to prevent young people joining violent gangs and how to help members leave gangs
Strengthening the law
The Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 has further strengthened the existing legislation relating to firearms by:
- targeting imitation firearms – by making it illegal to manufacture or sell imitation firearms that could be mistaken for real firearms, strengthening sentences for carrying imitation firearms, and creating tougher manufacturing standards so imitations can’t be converted to fire real ammunition
- reducing illegal use of air weapons – by increasing the age limit for buying or firing air weapons without supervision
Key publications
Latest publications
See also
For practitioners
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