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The table shows the average length of custodial sentence (excluding life) imposed by the courts for the various offences involving the unlawful possession of firearms in England and Wales for the years 2000 to 2004, the latest year for which figures are currently available. It is compiled on the principal offence basis. Although care is taken in collating and analysing the returns used to compile such figures, the data are of necessity subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system. Consequently, although some figures may be shown to the last digit in order to provide a comprehensive record of the information collected, they are not necessarily accurate to the last digit shown. Data on average time served, which are obtained from the prison IT system, are not available separately for specific offences as accuracy at this level of detail cannot be guaranteed. We have started a programme of work in the Home Office looking at the quality of existing court sentencing and prison data and how this might be improved.
Months Average sentence lengths (excluding life) Offence Statute 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Possessing etc. firearms or ammunition without firearm certificate Firearms Act 1968 S. 1(1) as amended by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 S.157 Sch.8 16.5 19.2 18.1 21.7 20.7 Possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition Firearms Act 1968 S.5(1) as amended by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 S.157 Sch.8 part III 18.7 18.7 21.3 27.3 35.11 Possession of firearms with intent to endanger life Firearms Act 1968 S.16 as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972 S.28(2) 43.8 57.8 52.6 63.5 69.2 Possession of a firearm or imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence Firearms Act 1968 S.16A (as amended by Firearms (Amendment) Act 1994) 19.5 20.2 18.5 24.3 23.0 Possessing firearm or imitation firearm at time of committing or being arrested for an offence specified in Schedule 1 of the Act Firearms Act 1968 S.17(2) as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972 S.28(3) 34.6 21.3 24.4 37.9 33.7 Possessing firearm or imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence or resist arrest etc. Firearms Act 1968 S.18(1) as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972 S.28(3) 30.2 45.3 59.2 55.4 58.8 Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime Firearms Act 1968 S.21(4) as amended by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 S.157 Sch.8 part III 11.8 10.1 16.5 18.9 17.5 1 A minimum five year sentence was introduced for offences committed from January 2004. Notes: 1. Figures are compiled on the principal offence basis—see para. 3.13 of Appendix 3 of ‘Sentencing Statistics 2004, England and Wales’ (Home Office Statistical Bulletin No. 15/05). 2. Although care is taken in collating and analysing the returns used to compile such figures, the data are of necessity subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system. Consequently, although figures are shown to the last digit in order to provide a comprehensive record of the information collected, they are not necessarily accurate to the last digit shown. Source: RDS NOMS 24-07-2006