The Sentencing Council has published data tables detailing recent sentencing trends for firearms importation offences. This is in preparation for the launch of the Council’s Firearms – importation definitive guideline, which will be published tomorrow (Wednesday 24 November).

The data tables include statistics on volumes and sentencing outcomes for the offences covered by the definitive guideline.

Please note that as of 23 November 2021, the published statistics concerning firearms importation offences specifically relating to section 50 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (improper importation of goods) published alongside the draft guideline have been revised. The figures have been corrected so that they include a historical offence code that is still being used by the courts, covering an additional 28 offenders between 2009 and 2019. This minor change has the most impact on the historical data (prior to 2016) and on sentences other than immediate custody; it has had no impact on the figures used for guideline development.