Annex B
Submission from The Police Superintendents
Association, Nottinghamshire Branch
Further to your memorandum of 23 August 1999,
I would offer the following comments:
AIR WEAPONS
1998
34 incidents where air weapons mentioned/suspected
4 incidents where air weapons legally
possessed
16 incidents where air weapons recovered
14 incidents where no weapons recovered
1999
23 incidents where air weapons mentioned/suspected
4 incidents where air weapons legally
possessed
14 incidents where air weapons recovered
5 incidents where no weapons recovered
SHOTGUNS
1998
30 incidents where shotguns mentioned/suspected
7 incidents where shotguns legally
possessed
3 incidents where shotguns recovered
20 incidents where no weapons recovered
1999
17 incidents where shotguns mentioned/suspected
1 incident where shotguns legally possessed
2 incidents where shotguns recovered
14 incidents where no firearms recovered
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Total firearms incidents dealt with (spontaneous
and pre-planned)
1998—274
1999—(as at 15.9.99) 192
In 1999 there were 51 incidents where it could
not be established what type of weapon was involved and 51 incidents
where a handgun was mentioned but the weapon was not traced and
could have been either a Section 1 Firearm, air weapon or imitation.
GENERAL COMMENTS
Air weapons are subject of restrictions concerning
possession and use but these restrictions are frequently flouted
and the proportion of incidents responded to by armed police officers
where air weapons have been involved is significant. I would support
stricter control over the sale/possession of air weapons in the
form of a licensing system which would require a purchaser to
obtain a license prior to the acquisition of the weapon. This
should be administered by a Licensing Authority NOT the police.
This could deter and prevent people from compulsive purchase of
an air weapon and introduce an element of control.
I also believe that one should question whether
or not the use of air weapons should be restricted to persons
shooting with approved gun clubs. I see little justification for
people taking powerful .22 calibre weapons into areas where the
public could be put at risk. I accept that there may be a need
for farmers to be permitted to use such weapons for vermin control.
I believe the present system of licensing for
shotguns is more than adequate but my comments concerning the
transfer of this responsibility from the police equally apply.
With regard to the ban on Section 1 handguns,
I welcome the measures as a means of reducing the opportunity
for such weapons to fall into criminal possession but I cannot
find any evidence to support a reduction in incidents involving
handguns being mentioned. Having said that, a significant proportion
of incidents where handguns are mentioned/involved remain untraced
or involve air weapons/replicas. I would welcome stronger control
even possibly a ban on the sale/possession of replica firearms.
I hope this will be of some assistance to you.
L J Kominiak
Chief Superintendent
15 September 1999
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