Firearm Offences

Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FOI/26/010251/K

Version Date: 12/08/2026

Please provide the number of recorded offences in your force area, by calendar year (2023, 2024, and 2025 to date), for the following:
1. Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, section 32— selling an air weapon by way of trade or business without both the buyer and the seller (or a representative) being present in person at the time of transfer.
2. Firearms Act 1968, section 4A — possession of an article for use in converting an imitation firearm into a live firearm.

The Performance & Analysis Department has provided the following information:

Searches were completed within Niche and the Police National Legal Database (PNLD) from 01/01/2023 to 15/07/2026 for the Home Office codes 196/68 and 081/90. These searches resulted in a nil return.

Please note that the data uses the "Principal Crime Rule", therefore, only occurrences whereby this is the main offence will appear.

With the introduction of Niche, the vast majority of Non-Notifiable offences (which Devon and Cornwall Police are not required to record as a crime, as per the Home Office Crime Counting rules) are no longer routinely recorded. As a result, any figures for these offences (after November 14th 2022) are highly likely to decrease or completely stop.