UK regions with the most firearm offences shown - see how yours fares

14 March 2024 , 10:00

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More firearm offences were committed in the West Midlands than anywhere else (Image: PA)

The UK policing areas with the most firearm offences have been revealed, with around 6,000 crimes committed between 2022 and 2023.

Illegal purchasing, illegal distribution, and carrying in a public place are among those committed by Brits. New information revealed by security agency Get Licenced showed which areas have the most guns, the most dealers and the number of licences which have been refused and revoked.

Based on analysis of public statistics, the West Midlands has the most firearm offences with 211.9 per 100,000 people. On average, 626 firearm offences are committed each year in the West Midlands.

Second place is the Metropolitan Police, with 184.1 firearm offences per 100,000 people. In London, Westminster is the local authority with the most possession of weapons offences, followed by Croydon and Lambeth. South Yorkshire is third with 161.2 firearm offences per 100,000 people. Rotherham has the largest increase in possession of firearms, at 15%.

People in Dyfed-Powys own the most 2,500 firearm and shotgun certificates per 100,000, followed by North Yorkshire and Norfolk. The next information showed Warwickshire has more firearm dealers than any other area of the UK, with 18.1 per 100,000 people, followed by North Yorkshire (11.83 dealers) and Surrey (11.69 firearm dealers per 100,000 people).

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Other details show applications for firearms in Durham have been refused more than any other police force area, with over 17% of applications being rejected. More shotgun and firearm licences have been revoked in Devon and Cornwall than in any other area, with 110 revocations.

Meanwhile, people in Kent have spent more than £310k on their firearm and shotgun certificates, more than any other area of the UK.

The report read: “With an expenditure of £311,370 between April 2022 and March 2023, Kent takes the top spot. Kent residents have paid more than £200,000 for shotgun applications and renewals and almost £100,000 for firearms applications and renewals.

“People in the Metropolitan Police Force area have spent more than £240,000 on shotgun grants and renewals and £65,000 on firearm grants and renewals. Essex completes our top three, with an expenditure on shotgun and firearm applications and renewals of almost £290,000.”

Police Force areas with most firearm offences

West Midlands

Metropolitan Police

South Yorkshire

West Yorkshire

Greater Manchester

Merseyside

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Northamptonshire

Bedfordshire

Cleveland

Essex

Areas with most shotguns

Dyfed-Powys

Norfolk

Suffolk

West Mercia

Cumbria

Lincolnshire

Wiltshire

Gloucestershire

Warwickshire

Northamptonshire

Police forces with most refused firearm licence applications

Durham

Cleveland

Warwickshire

Greater Manchester

South Yorkshire

South Wales

Merseyside

North Wales

Devon and Cornwall

Nottinghamshire

Antony Clements-Thrower