Gun crime decreased across most of Yorkshire, with West and South Yorkshire still above the national average. North Yorkshire saw an increase. Overall, firearm offences in England and Wales hit a decade low.
According to the latest Home Office data, every police force in Yorkshire recorded a drop in gun crime - except North Yorkshire . But despite the decline, the rate of gun crime in West and South Yorkshire remains above average.
Across England and Wales, the number of firearm offences fell to its lowest in a decade. Firearm offences include instances when a firearm is discharged, used as a blunt instrument against a person, or brandished as a threat, excluding the use of air weapons. The Gun Control Network, which campaigns to reduce gun violence, welcomed the overall decline in firearm offences but cautioned that "there is no room for complacency", calling for stricter gun ownership regulations. West Yorkshire Police logged 354 firearm offences in the year to March – a significant drop of 43 per cent from 626 in 2023/2024. This equates to 15 firearm offences per 100,000 people in West Yorkshire last year, a figure higher than the average of eight per 100,000 in England and Wales.Meanwhile South Yorkshire Police recorded 164 firearm offences – down 47 per cent from 309 the year before. This is equivalent to 12 firearm offences per 100,000 people. Of the crimes, 30 lethal-barrelled or unknown firearms were fired last year. North Yorkshire Police were the only force in the region to report an increase in gun crime last year. The force recorded 44 firearm offences - up from 28 the year before and equivalent to five firearm offences per 100,000 people.Humberside Police recorded 47 firearm offences in the year to March – down from 108 the year before. It means there were five firearm offences per 100,000 people. In the force area, two lethal-barrelled or unknown firearms were fired last year. Across England and Wales, police forces recorded 5,103 firearm offences last year – a 21 per cent decrease from 6,449 in 2023-24 and the lowest tally since 2014-15. These included 790 offences where lethal-barrelled and unknown firearms were discharged, marking a 14 per cent increase from 693 the previous year, yet it remained the second-lowest figure since 2015-16. The data also indicates that young people were disproportionately represented among firearm victims nationally. Individuals aged between 10 and 30 comprised 43 per cent of firearm victims in the year to March, while they represented 25 per cent of the population. A spokesperson from the Gun Control Network said: "Gun control works, and the evidence is clear as the number of firearms offences drops to the lowest in a decade, and the rate of firearms offences drops to the lowest since records began, but there is no room for complacency. Get all Yorkshire crime and court stories sent to your phone Get all the latest crime and court stories in Yorkshire news straight to your mobile via WhatsApp by clicking here. Whether it's breaking news straight from a crime scene, live updates from big court cases happening in our region or police appeals, you'll get it all. If you don’t like our community, you can leave any time. We also treat members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. Read our privacy notice here. "Tragic failings in our flawed shotgun licensing procedure enabled men to whom police granted gun licenses, to use their guns to devastate communities and families in Cumbria, Horden, Farnham, Woodmancote, Plymouth, Skye, Epsom and elsewhere. "Urgent action is needed to ensure that shotgun licences are no longer a 'golden ticket', with no limit on the number of guns held on one licence." The charity is pushing for tougher regulations surrounding gun ownership, including mandating the participation of "those who know the applicant best" in the firearm certificates application procedures. Get breaking news in Yorkshire straight to your phone Get all the latest big and breaking Yorkshire news straight to your mobile via WhatsApp by clicking here. If you don’t like our community, you can leave any time. We also treat members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. Read our privacy notice here. The Government rolled out stricter controls on firearms licensing last month. Fresh statutory guidance for the police bolsters how forces assess who is fit to hold a firearm or shotgun licence, with the quantity of referees needed for shotgun certificate applications increasing from one to two. ACC Tim Metcalfe, National Police Chiefs' Council lead for the criminal use of firearms, said: "Firearm related criminality in the UK remains among the lowest in the world. "That said, we are not complacent because we know that firearms enabled serious violence has a disproportionate impact on victims and society as a whole. "While the number of people who become victims of gun crime remains low, further reducing the criminal use of firearms remains a priority for policing." He went on to say it is now "incredibly difficult to obtain lethal purpose firearms" in the UK and pledged police leaders will continue to tackle gun violence "as early as possible". Policing and Crime Minister Sarah Jones said: "I am encouraged to see the number of firearms offences have fallen to their lowest level in a decade. "We have strong firearms controls in this country, and I want to thank the police and other law enforcement agencies for their continued hard work, helping to ensure firearms do not fall into the hands of criminals. "However, there is more work to be done and we will always take whatever action is necessary to protect the public."
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