firearms

illegal importation

firearms enter the UK criminal market after being obtained or modified illegally

domestic diversion

• legally owned forearms that become illegal through theft, reactivation, conversion

• shotgun most stolen

• reactivating deactivated firearms requires advanced machining and welding skills

illegal production

firearm manufacturers domestically and therefore entered the criminal marketplace

type of firearms

• section 1 - firearms and ammunition

• section 2 - shotguns

• section 3 - prohibited weapons and ammunition

• non-certified - certain low powered firearms and ammunition

types of ammunition

• section 1 ammunition

• shotgun cartridges

• blank and converted blank cartridges

• cartridges containing noxious substances

• air pellets and airlift 6mm BBs

national ballistic intelligence service (NABIS)

• ballistic items - firearms, bullets, cartridge cases, ammunition and component part suitable for submission

• ballistic ink - a proven connection between ammunition and the firearm used, or between ammunition fires from same weapon

gunshot residue

• consist of burned or partially burned propellant expelled during firing

• used to help determine muzzle to target distance

common types of characteristics (GSR)

• type 1 - lead, barium and antimony

• type 2 - lead, barium, antimony, aluminium

• type 3 - lead, barium, antimony, tin

• type 4 - barium, calcium, silicon, lead, antimony

• type 5 - tin, barium, calcium, silicon, lead, antimony

GSR hand test - reason for negative

• delay in testing

• hand washing

• wearing gloves

• use of bolt action rifles or shotguns

when GSR may be absent

• poor evidence handling

• life saving efforts by emergency services

• masked by blood or debris

• shots fired beyond residue deposition distance

initial response at a firearms scene

• ACPO guidance state non terrorist firearms will not discharge if left undisturbed

• time should be taken to plan safe evidence recovery

the investigative challenge

• ballistic ink bullets or cartridges cases to a firearm

• main challenge is linking the firearm to the suspect who used it

recovery of firearm

• make weapon safe

• record its condition

• recovery trace evidence

• package correctly

shooting scene reconstruction

• establish bullet trajectory

• entry, exit and terminal point

• access ricochet

• determine number of fires shot

• identity calibre and weapon type