HOME OFFICE News
Release (152/2007) issued by The Government News Network on 27
September 2007
A range of tough
new powers to tackle alcohol-fulled disorder, knife and gun crime,
including realistic imitation firearms and air weapons, have been
welcomed today by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
The new violent crime measures form part of the Violent Crime
Reduction Act 2006 and include:
* An offence to manufacture, import or sell realistic imitation guns;
* An offence to sell an imitation gun to a person aged under 18;
* An offence to modify an imitation gun to make it realistic or
convertible into a real firearm;
* A doubling of the maximum sentence for carrying an imitation
gun in public without reasonable excuse, from 6 to 12 months.
* Air weapons sold only by firearms dealers who are registered by
police with all sales taking place face-to-face;
* Increasing the age limit for buying or possessing an air weapon
from 17 to 18. Also, an offence to sell, hire or make a gift of an
air weapon to a person under the age of 18;
* An offence for any person to fire an air weapon beyond the
boundary of any premises;
* An offence to sell a knife to a person aged under 18 (increased
from 16). Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:
"The new measures which come into force on Monday send the
strong signal that weapons on our streets will not be tolerated.
Tackling gun and knife crime is a top priority for this Government
and it is essential that we build on the tools and powers that
police already have in order to make people feel safer and more
secure in their communities.
"We are determined to prevent young people obtaining knives
by raising the age from 16 to 18. We are also determined to crack
down on the criminals who use realistic imitation firearms to
threaten and intimidate people.
"It is important to remember that the gun crime problem is
concentrated in a few local areas which we recognise and on which
we are focusing our efforts with the new Tackling Gangs Action
Programme. These new powers are the latest example of how the
Government is working to make all communities safer, putting the
interests of law-abiding people at the heart of our crime
prevention action plans."
Imitation guns feature in a significant number of crimes, ranging
from nuisance and intimidation to armed robbery. In 2005/06 there
were 3,275 offences involving imitations, which accounted for
about 15 per cent of all firearms offences in that period.
Although that figure has decreased to 2,493 offences in 2006/07,
the Government remains determined to crack down on criminals who
use realistic imitations to threaten and intimidate people.
Since 2000, young people aged 10 to 17 have accounted for one
fifth of those who have been convicted of unlawfully carrying a
knife. The new knife offence aims to further prevent young people
getting hold of knives, by raising the age at which a knife can be
purchased from 16 to 18. This sends a clear message that the
Government expects knives only to be used for legitimate purposes
by responsible adults.
Other measures also coming into force today include:
* A new power for the police to apply for a fast track review of
an alcohol premises' licence if they feel it could be
associated with serious crime or serious disorder, and a power for
councils to step in and impose immediate extra conditions on the
licence pending that review;
* Authorised members of staff at attendance centres can search
anyone they suspect of carrying a knife or other offensive weapon;
* An offence to sell a crossbow to a person aged under 18
(increased from 16).
NOTE TO EDITORS
1. The Violent Crime Reduction Act received Royal Assent on 8
November 2006 and its measures have been introduced on a staggered
basis. The new measures outlines above come into force on Monday 1
October. The Act in full can be viewed online at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/ukpga_20060038_en.pdf
2. A realistic imitation firearm is one that is so realistic as
to make it indistinguishable from a real firearm. The following
regulations which specify the dimensions and colours which would
not be considered realistic are included in the Act: An imitation
firearm with dimensions less than a height of 38mm and a length of
70mm is to be regarded as unrealistic. Additionally, imitation
firearms which are transparent; bright red; bright orange; bright
yellow; bright green; bright pink; bright purple; and bright blue
are also unrealistic for the purposes of the regulations.
3. There are exceptions. The Act now makes it a defence to show
that the manufacture, import or sale of realistic imitation
firearms is for the purposes of a museum or gallery; for theatre,
film or television productions; or for specified historical
re-enactments. There is also a defence for air soft skirmishing
and for the purpose of display at arms fairs.
4. The level of air weapon use is also unacceptable. In 2005/06,
there were 10,437 crimes in which air weapons were used, resulting
in 1,180 cases of injury, including one fatality and 119 cases of
serious injury. This was a 12% decrease on the previous year, but
still too high. We believe that restricting the points of sale of
air weapons and increasing the age limit will tackle the problem
at source.
5. At present, air weapons can be sold by any retailer who
chooses to do so, from corner shops to car boot sales. The new
controls make suppliers accountable to the police, who are able to
withdraw registration where a supplier becomes a danger to public
safety, for example, by selling to underage people. Records of
transactions will now have to be kept which removes the anonymity
of purchasers and should deter casual and irresponsible sales from
market sales. It is now a requirement for all air weapons sold to
be handed over in person to the purchaser, allowing the dealer to
check for proof of age. Young people will still be able to use air
weapons under controlled conditions such as under adult
supervision or at approved shooting clubs.
6. Attendance Centres are run by the Ministry of Justice under
Section 62 of the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 2000 in order to
administer Attendance Centre Orders or other community orders
imposed by the criminal courts. There are currently 112 Centres in
England and Wales, consisting of approximately 1100 personnel.
They cater for first time offenders all the way through to serious
and persistent offenders subject to the most stringent juvenile
community sentence, the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance
Programme, or those who have come out of custody and have re-offended.
7. On Sunday 9 September the Home Secretary announced renewed
action to tackle gun and gang crime in neighbourhoods within
London, Liverpool, Greater Manchester and Birmingham overseen by a
new Ministerial Taskforce and a new dedicated national unit, the
Tackling Gangs Action Programme Team. These areas account for over
half of all firearms offences in England and Wales.