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Written question asked by Chris Ruane (Labour) on Thursday, 19 April 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 April 2012. It was answered by Lord Herbert of South Downs (Conservative) on Monday, 30 April 2012 on behalf of the Home Office.

Firearms: Crime

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children and teenagers were killed by guns in each of the last five years for which data is available.
Answer

Homicide Index data for victims aged under 19 where the principal method of killing was shooting are provided in Table A. Data are provided for each year from 2006-07 to 2010-11. These data do not include cases where a child or teenager was killed by a gun but the incident was not recorded as a homicide.Homicides are relatively rare events and the number can fluctuate from year-to-year so these changes need to be interpreted with some caution.The data presented are for homicides currently recorded in each year as at 18 October 2011. Figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts or as further information becomes available.

Table A: Offences currently¹ recorded as shooting homicide² where the victim was aged 19 or under: England and Wales, 2006-07 to 2010-11
Total
2006-07 12
2007-08 12
2008-09 7
2009-10 3
2010-11 8
¹ As at 18 October 2011; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available.
² Includes homicides where the principal method of killing was a firearm or other type of shooting weapon e.g. crossbow or catapult.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
105266; 543 c1090W
Session
2010-12
Subjects
Crime Death Firearms Homicide Young people
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk