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Written question asked by Chris Huhne (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 6 July 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 July 2006. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Monday, 4 September 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Crime Statistics

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were recorded in (a) England and Wales, (b) Eastleigh borough, (c) Hampshire, (d) Portsmouth and (e) Southampton involving (i) knives, (ii) guns and (iii) other offensive weapons in each year since 1995.
Answer

Available data for firearms offences (excluding air weapons) relate only to police force area. Information for England and Wales and Hampshire is given in the following tables.Although the homicide figures record where a sharp or blunt instrument has been used, it is not possible to identify from recorded crime statistics whether other crimes involve the use of a knife or other offensive weapon.The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in April 2002. Because of this figures before and after that date are not directly comparable.

Table (A): Crimes recorded by the police in which firearms (excluding air weapons ) were reported to have been used,1995 to 2001-02
England and Wales Hampshire
1995 5,866 39
1996 6,063 48
1997 4,904 29
1998-99¹ 5,209 38
1999-2000 6,843 52
2000-01² 7,470 49
2001-02 10,023 58
¹ There was a change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998. ² Numbers of some recorded crimes may have been inflated by some police forces implementing the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard before 1 April 2002.
Table (B): Crimes recorded by the police in which firearms (excluding air weapons) were reported to have been used, 2002-03 to 2004-05
England and Wales Hampshire
2002-03¹ 10,248 97
2003-04 10,338 130
2004-05 10,964 148
¹ The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in April 2002. Because of this figures before and after that date are not directly comparable.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
449 c1767W;449 c1766-7W; 84662
Session
2005-06
Subjects
Crime Offensive weapons
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk