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<p>The Government and police work nationally, and with international partners, to
reduce the threat to the UK from the criminal use of firearms. In 2013/14, firearms
were used in a small and diminishing proportion of total police recorded crime, 0.2%.
We also support local areas to take action against gang violence to reduce offending
and protect vulnerable people. Under the Ending Gang and Youth Violence programme,
Birmingham was subject to a peer review in 2012 and has implemented and integrated
the recommendations from the review into their local strategic plans. The Home Office
does not hold data centrally on the number of arrests made in connection with gun
crime. The UK has some of the toughest gun laws in the world and the government and
the police continue to work together to reduce the threat from the criminal use of
firearms. We will be reviewing options to strengthen the current legislation to ensure
it safeguards against abuse by criminals following representations made by the police
(and other stakeholders) during the Law Commission’s scoping consultation on firearms
legislation. The number of offences involving firearms (excluding air weapons) in
the West Midlands has fallen by 40% since 2010, from 903 offences in 2009/10 to 540
in 2013/14.</p>
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