Serious firearm offences soar in the past twelve months – as number of police officers falls

SERIOUS firearm offences have soared in the past twelve months, we can reveal.

Shotgun incidents rose by a shocking ten per cent to 650, according to the latest national figures.

Cops also recorded 2,847 handgun incidents – a rise of six per cent – in the year to March, the Office of National Statistics revealed.

Firearms offences overall – which also includes rifles and BB guns – increased at 2 per cent which was slower rate than in previous years.

There was a fall in the number of offences involving less serious weapons such as imitation firearms that dropped seven per cent to 1,523.

Figures have fallen overall by 16 per cent since June 2010 with a decrease in less serious firearm offences.

But serious firearm offences have shown increases again that may be down to the better recording of incidents.

The Home Office has recently brought forward new legislation to bring about greater controls on firearms.

It comes as figures this week showed that nine crimes in ten didn’t result in individuals being charged or being taken to court.

Cop numbers also dropped by 738 to 122,404 which is understood to be the lowest since 1981.

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott MP said: “The police desperately need our support but you can’t trust the Tories on crime, they’ve broken promise after promise on funding and officer numbers.

“You can’t have security on the cheap.

“Cuts have consequences, and the figures are clear, crimes involving more serious weapons is on the rise.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We continue to work nationally and with international partners to reduce the threat to the UK from the criminal use of firearms.

“As set out in the Serious Violence Strategy, we are working to strengthen controls on legally-held firearms to prevent them falling into criminal hands.

“This work includes the introduction of new measures in the Offensive Weapons Bill to ban certain high energy rifles and rapid firing rifles, consulting on statutory guidance on firearms licensing to improve standards and the consistency of police licensing decisions, and tightening controls on firearms dealers, including more robust inspections, greater transparency on employees, and tighter controls on transportation.

“We are ensuring that we have the right intelligence, detection and enforcement capabilities and policies internationally, at the UK border and within the UK.”

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