The public, police, Crown Prosecution Service, victims groups, the judiciary, voluntary and community organisations are all being asked for their views on the need for a new offence of possession of illegal firearms with intent to supply and whether to increase the penalty for illegal importation of firearms.
The UK has some of the toughest gun laws in the world and, as a result, firearm offences continue to make up a small proportion of overall recorded crime.
However, gun crime associated with street gangs and organised criminals, particularly in our largest cities, is a cause of major concern with young people featuring disproportionately among both perpetrators and victims.
The Home Secretary commented: “We need to target not just those who use illegal firearms but those who import or supply them. These middle men are as responsible as those who pull the trigger for the terrible harm gun crime causes. We must ensure our laws properly punish and deter all criminals and protect our communities. That’s why, as part of the cross-Government work to end gang and youth violence, we are giving the police and local agencies all the tools and powers they need.”
Time to strengthen laws?
While there are a range of existing offences, none deal specifically with possession with intent to supply illegal firearms.
At the same time, the police have argued that the current maximum penalty for illegal importation – ie ten years’ imprisonment – is too lenient and does not reflect the harm caused by firearms to our communities.
Contribute to the online consultation which will run for 12 weeks. It represents the latest government action to deliver on commitments towards ending gang and youth violence published in November last year.
Response from ACPO lead
The police service sees the proposed areas of legislative change as being vital to effectively deal with the people who are at the heart of gun crime within communities across the country
ACPO lead on criminal use of firearms, assistant chief constable Sue Fish, said: “In driving the fight against gun crime forward it’s essential that the police service has the right tools to tackle those individuals who import and supply illegal firearms. Both ACPO and the National Ballistics Intelligence Service gave evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee in November 2010 and have continued to work with Government in order to develop the consultation process.”
Fish continued: “The police service sees the proposed areas of legislative change as being vital to effectively deal with the people who are at the heart of gun crime within communities across the country.
“As we continue to target these ‘middle men’ we must ensure that they are appropriately dealt with and that the available sentencing provisions reflect the damage they cause to families and communities affected by this terrible crime.”
Hampshire questions minister on Police and Crime Commissioners
Policing minister Nick Herbert visited Portsmouth on Tuesday to promote the arrival of Police and Crime Commissioners later this year.
Herbert met representatives of local authorities and criminal justice, voluntary, community safety and health organisations as part of preparations for the elections in November.
“The arrival of Police and Crime Commissioners will be the most significant democratic reform of policing in our lifetime,” explained Herbert. “From November, the people of Hampshire will have a stronger voice in how their streets are policed and will be able to turn to their Police and Crime Commissioner to hold the police to account on their behalf.”
In ten months’ time the public across England and Wales in each of the 41 police force areas outside London will take to the ballot box to elect their own Police and Crime Commissioner.
The job of Police and Crime Commissioners will be to:
Download the Fire Safety in 2023 eBook, keeping you up to date with the biggest news and prosecution stories from around the industry. Chapters include important updates such as the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and an overview of the new British Standard for the digital management of fire safety information.
Plus, we explore the growing risks of lithium-ion battery fires and hear from experts in disability evacuation and social housing.
