Information on the number of persons aged 21 and over and aged 10 to 20 years who have been found guilty and the sentence breakdown for possession of a gun in England and Wales 2003 to 2007 is contained in the following tables.
These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
Table 1: Number of persons found guilty at all courts for offences relating to possession of a gun in England and Wales, by age group, 2003 to 20071, 2, 3, 4, 5Age group10 to 2021 and over200339178720045051,08820056281,40720065941,35720076951,4271 The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.3 Includes the following statutes and offence descriptions:Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 16 (Group I) as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972 S28(2).Possession of firearm with intent to endanger life.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 16 (Group II) as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972 S28(2).Possession of firearm with intent to endanger life.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 16 (Group III) as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972 S28(2).Possession of firearm with intent to endanger life.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 17(2) (Group I) as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972 S28(3).Possessing firearms or imitation fire arm at time of committing or being arrested for an offence specified in schedule 1 of the Act.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 17(2) (Group II) as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972 S28(3). 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 Sec 17(2) (Group III) as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972 S28(3).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 Sec 18(1) (Group I) as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972 S28(3).Possessing firearm or imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence or resist arrest.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 18(1) (Group II) as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972 S28(3).Possessing firearm or imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence or resist arrest.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 18(1) (Group III) as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1972 S28(3).Possessing firearm or imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence or resist arrest.Firearms Act 1968 Sec 16A (as amended by Firearms (Amendment) Act 1994) Group I.Possession of a firearm or imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.Firearms Act 1968 Sec 16A (as amended by Firearms (Amendment) Act 1994) (Group II).Possession of a firearm or imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.Firearms Act 1968 Sec 16A (as amended by Firearms (Amendment) Act 1994) (Group III).Possession of a firearm or imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.Firearms Act 1968 (Group I) Sec 1(1),as amended by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Sec.157, Sch.8 part III.Possessing etc firearm or ammunition without firearm certificate.Firearms Act 1968, Sec 2(1) (Group II) as amended by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Sec.157 Sch.8 part III.Possessing etc shot gun without certificate.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 5(1) (Group I) as amended by Criminal Justice Act 2003 S.288.Possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 19 (Group I) as amended by the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 S.37 (l)(a and c) and (2)Carrying loaded firearm in public place etc.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 19 (Group II) as amended by the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 S.37 (l) (a and c) and (2)Carrying loaded firearm in public place etc.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 21(4) (Group I) as amended by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Sec.157 Sch.8 part III.Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 21(4) (Group II) as amended by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Sec.157 Sch.8 part III.Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 21(4) (Group III) as amended by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Sec.157 Sch.8 part III.Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime.Firearms Act 1968 Sec 5(1A)(a) (Group I) as amended by Criminal Justice Act 2003 Sec.288.Possessing or distributing firearm disguised as other object.Firearms Act 1968 Sec 5(1A) (b),(c),(d)(e),(f) or (g) as amended by Criminal Justice Act 2003 Sec.288.Possessing or distributing other prohibited weapons.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 19 (Group III).Carrying loaded firearm in public place etc.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 20(1) (Group III).Trespassing with firearm in a building.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 20(2) (Group I).Trespassing with firearm on land.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 20(2) (Group II).Trespassing with firearm on land.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 20(2) (Group III).Trespassing with firearm on land.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 22(1) (Group I).Person under 17 purchasing or hiring firearm or ammunition.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 22(1) (Group II).Person under 17 purchasing or hiring firearm or ammunition.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 22(1) (Group III).Person under 17 purchasing or hiring firearm or ammunition.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 22(2) (Group I).Person under 14 having firearm or ammunition in his possession.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 22(3) (Group II).Person under 15 having with him a shot gun without adult supervision.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 22(4) (Group III). Person under 14 having with him an air weapon or ammunition.Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 22(5) (Group III).Person under 17 having with him an air weapon in a public place.4 Some offences will cover those where a firearm or an imitation firearm were possessed. It is not possible to separately identify those that were a firearm from those that were imitation firearms as they are grouped together.5 The sentenced column may exceed those found guilty, as it may be the case that a defendant found guilty and committed for sentence at the crown court may be sentenced in the following year.Source:Evidence and Analysis Unit—Office for Criminal Justice Reform, Ministry of Justice
Age group/result 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Aged between 10 and 20 Sentenced 393 504 617 596 697 Absolute discharge 7 11 7 7 10 Conditional discharge 35 49 64 58 38 Fine 26 48 63 47 41 Community sentence 166 249 329 303 388 Fully suspended sentence — — 3 17 34 Immediate custody 152 139 146 157 176 Otherwise dealt with 7 8 5 7 10 Aged 21 and over Sentenced 799 1,077 1,379 1,333 1,428 Absolute discharge 4 4 16 6 6 Conditional discharge 73 138 190 194 183 Fine 114 163 272 192 219 Community sentence 155 260 362 339 357 Fully suspended sentence 35 42 77 169 202 Immediate custody 402 452 437 412 438 Otherwise dealt with 16 18 25 21 23 Notes: 1. The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3. The sentenced column may exceed those found guilty, as it may be the case that a defendant found guilty and committed for sentence at the crown court may be sentenced in the following year. Source: (OMSAS)110-09