Children as young as 10 arrested for gun crimes
Children as young as 10 were among those arrested for suspected gun crimes in the last three years across our region.
The Press Association sent Freedom of Information requests to every policeforce in the UK asking how many children had been arrested and charged with firearm offences between 2013 and January 2016.
Dorset Police said four children were arrested and charged with firearmoffences. They included two children charged with possessing a firearm withintent to cause fear of violence and two of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.charged.
Hampshire Police said 23 children were arrested for firearm offences between 2013 and January 2016. Three boys aged 13, 16 and 17 were charged. One boy charged for using a firearm to threaten/cause fear of violence, while two boys were charged after they were found with weapons during stop checks.
Kent Police said there were 12 arrests for suspected firearm offencesinvolving boys and one involving a girl since 2013. A 13-year-old boy, a 15-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy and two 17-year-old boys were charged with possessing an imitation firearm. A 16-year-old boy was charged with possessing a firearm without a certificate and a 16-year-old boy was charged with possessing ammunition without a certificate.
The Press Association did not receive a response from Surrey Police.
Sussex Police provided details of 21 arrests for suspected firearm offencesinvolving children - seven in 2015, two in 2014 and 12 in 2013. Arrest records provided by the force showed no charges in 2015. There were two charges in 2014 including a 17-year-old boy charged with possession of an imitation firearm in a public place in 2014, and a boy aged 17 charged with a firearm offence. Arrests records in 2013 showed two charges for firearm offences - in both cases they were a 13-year-old boy.
Thames Valley Police said 39 children had been arrested for suspectedfirearms offences in 2015, compared with 34 in 2014 and 30 in 2013. The figures included five girls in 2015, one girl in 2014 and three girls in 2013.In total, eight boys were charged in 2015, 10 in 2014 and seven in 2013.Offences included possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possession of a weapon for the discharge of a noxiousliquid/gas/electrical incapacitation device/thing, possession of shotgun withintent to endanger life/enable another to do so.
Wiltshire Police said six boys were arrested for suspected firearm offencesin 2015, compared with three boys in 2014, including one under the age of 11, and three boys in 2013. Two boys were charged in 2015, two boys were charged in 2014 and one boy was charged in 2013. The force did not provide any further details of the crimes, arguing it may identify the offenders and breach the Data Protection Act.