Government posturing on guns does not match reality

12.00.00am GMT Tue 25th Mar 2008

The Government's failure to take gun crime seriously was today highlighted in new figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats.

Statistics from a Parliamentary Answer show that the number of guns seized at UK borders has more than halved in a year. Liberal Democrat research has also shown that nine times as many customs officers work on stopping cigarette smuggling than gun smuggling.

The revelations come as Merseyside Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe criticised judges for overlooking mandatory five-year sentences for possession of a firearm.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

"The Chief Constable of Merseyside Police is correct to highlight the increasing disparity between the Government's posturing on penalties and the sentences that are actually dished out.

"Ministers are happy to use the fear of gun crime to chase headlines but are seemingly unable to take the necessary steps to take guns off our streets."

Commenting on the gun seizure statistics, Chris Huhne added:

"The number of guns seized at our borders has more than halved in a year when murders using firearms rose by a fifth.

"When there are nine times as many customs officers working on seizing cigarettes than on seizing firearms, it is hardly surprising that the Government is failing to stem the flow of guns into the country.

"The much vaunted new border force is merely the rebranding of existing functions and not the answer to tackling gun smuggling. What is required is a co-ordinated National Border Force, which unites the present border control functions of HM Customs & Excise, the Immigration & Nationality Directorate and the police to guard our ports and airports 24 hours a day."