Firearm Crime Statistics: England & Wales

Statistics on the number of police-recorded firearm offences are published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the Crime in England and Wales bulletin. Gun-related crime statistics are published by the ONS in the Offences involving the use of weapons: data tables.

Recorded non-air firearm offences

In the year ending 31 March 2025, there were a total of 5,103 non-air firearm offences recorded by the police in England & Wales. This was a decrease of 21%, compared with the 6,449 offences recorded during the year ending 31 March 2024.

Firearms include:

• conventional guns, like shotguns, handguns and rifles
• imitation weapons such as BB guns or soft air weapons
• other weapons, such as CS gas or pepper spray and stun guns
• unidentified weapons

The figures exclude conventional air weapons such as air rifles.

Offences involving firearms do not always require that they are fired; for example, they may involve possession, sale, or threats.

Homicide

The most recent data suggests that there were 32 homicides committed by shooting in the year ending 31 March 2025 – 6% of all homicides. Of these 32 victims, 28% were female and 72% were male.

Types of offences

In the year ending 31 March 2025, ‘violence against the person’ (VATP) offences accounted for 36% of all air and non-air firearms offences, and ‘criminal damage’ accounted for 21%. ‘possession of weapons’ made up 19% of offences and ‘robbery’ 9%.  

Type of non-air firearm used

From 2010/11 to 2020/21, handguns were the most commonly used non-air firearm for offending, with such offences accounting for 37% of non-air firearm offences in 2020/21.

From 2021/22 imitation firearms became the most used non-air firearm for offending, accounting for 37% of non-air firearm offences in 2024/25 (compared to 33% for handguns).

Non-air firearm offences by Police Force Area

In 2024/25, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) recorded the largest number of non-air firearm offences. These accounted for 22% of all non-air firearm offences in England and Wales.

However, Bedfordshire Police had the highest rate of non-air firearm offences at 18.0 per 100,000 population, followed by West Midlands Police at 15.3. The lowest rate was recorded in Suffolk (1.3 offences per 100,000).