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July 20, 202613 min read
Crime is changing: not just in scale, but in the way it spreads. With each passing year, the world sees more stories of crime, whether it's theft, drug abuse, knife attacks or gun violence.
The UK is a part of it too; while we're not dealing with the same volume of firearm incidents as other countries, there's a clear shift happening. Guns are no longer just rare finds; they are appearing more often in gang activity, street-level threats, and cases linked to youth and county lines networks. However, they are often not fired, but used to intimidate, threaten, and control.
According to the National Crime Agency (NCA), firearms remain a significant threat in the UK despite law enforcement efforts to keep numbers low. While gun deaths in the UK are still rare, the presence of weapons in everyday crimes is growing and has become a concern for the local communities.
Despite the UK having some of the world's strictest firearm laws, gun violence continues to appear in police reports year after year. Whether used in street-level disputes, gang intimidation or armed robberies, the use of firearms, legal or not, remains a pressing issue for law enforcement.
In 2022 to 23, the UK recorded over 24,000 firearm-related offences. By 2023 to 24, this figure had fallen slightly, suggesting improved control in certain areas.
Year | Recorded Firearm Offences | Change from the Previous Year |
2021-22 | 22,170 | - |
2022-23 | 24,094 | ? 8.7% increase |
2023-24 | 22,893 | ? 5% decrease |
Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS)
These shifts are pretty interesting to observe. Let's understand them below:
Gun crime in the UK rose sharply in 2022 to 23, likely linked to post-lockdown gang movements and county lines activity.
The drop in 2023 to 24 could be attributed to increased intelligence operations by the NCA and local police; however, the threat remains.
Many of these crimes involve weapons that are not fired but still used to terrorise.
While overall UK gun crime is currently down by 5%, the methods of gun use are shifting. There has been a noticeable rise in firearms being used to threaten rather than discharge.
These threats are often just as traumatic for victims and can still cause physical or psychological harm.
In high-risk environments such as concerts, football stadiums, or busy transport hubs, crowd safety becomes an integral part of prevention, making it essential to have trained professionals on site. That's why places like these often rely on SIA-licensed security guards who are trained to respond to escalating threats with control and authority.
Not every gun is fired. In fact, the overwhelming majority involve firearms being used just to intimidate or threaten.
But this doesn't make them any less dangerous. The presence of a gun, real or fake, can at any time escalate and lead to a life-threatening situation.
This is where the real danger of gun violence lies in the UK today. Criminals often use guns not to kill but to frighten the victims, enforce control over rivals, or rob with fear as leverage. Unfortunately, this aggressive display of dominance can often lead to fatal injuries, panic-driven crowd reactions, and long-term mental trauma for victims.
Method of Use | Percentage of Cases |
Used as a Threat: Gun was brandished or pointed | ~68% |
Fired: Gun was actually discharged | ~29% |
Used as a Blunt Weapon: Gun was used to strike the victim physically | ~3.5% |
Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS)
In Summary:
Nearly 7 out of 10 gun crimes in the UK involve threats rather than discharges.
The act of threatening someone with a firearm is a deliberate intimidation tactic commonly used by gangs, especially during disputes over drugs or territory.
Even non-firing incidents can result in gun deaths indirectly, through retaliation, panic or police response.
While it's encouraging to see a reduction in the number of actual shootings, the growing normalisation of using guns to scare people is alarming. It suggests a shift in criminal behaviour from concealment to visible shows of force.
Whether it's shoplifting or a nightclub bouncer dealing with a heated confrontation, the risk of it escalating is real.
In such environments, it's crucial that security guards, tasked with retail safety and public protection, are well trained to handle such situations and understand what they can and cannot do legally.
It's worrying to see the kinds of firearms being used in crimes, even after having strict gun laws in the UK. Gangs and criminals are using these weapons, often illegally, either by importing or modifying them.
Weapon Type | Number of Offences | Change from Last Year (2023-24) |
Shotguns | 52 | 42% |
Handguns | 226 | 8% |
Other firearms | 1126 | 9% |
Air weapons | 348 | 23% |
Total firearms | 1752 | 8.2% |
Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS)
In Summary:
Shotguns are declining in use due to stringent regulations and increased monitoring.
Handguns have been increasingly common in gang-related shootings and territorial displays.
Other firearms, including converted weapons, are often smuggled into urban hotspots.
Air Weapons are easy to obtain and frequently used to threaten or shut down areas.
The rise in handguns, other firearms, and air weapons is pointing towards a troubling trend. An increase in urban gang violence and easily accessible weapons is driving the spike in the highest gun crime in the UK.
This raises a key question: Where are all these guns coming from?
In such an alarming situation, it is crucial for public places to have well-trained SIA-licensed security guards who can calmly and professionally handle difficult situations while upholding the behavioural standards expected in the security industry.
Hurak offers a number of SIA-approved security courses:
Physical Intervention Refresher and Crossover Training: Ideal for those seeking to maintain their skills up to date.
SIA Door Supervisor Training: Teaches conflict management and public safety.
SIA CCTV Operator Training: Enhances surveillance and response to threats.
SIA Security Guard Training Course: A broad foundation in security industry standards.
Close Protection: Focused on personal security for high-risk environments.
With well-trained, legally licensed staff, public spaces, such as pubs, events, and transportation hubs, can create safer environments and help minimise the risk of gun-related incidents.
Despite strict firearm laws, gun-related crimes are escalating, and here's what's most important to understand: most of these weapons aren't even legally registered.
That raises a serious question: where exactly are these guns coming from?
From gang disputes to intimidation in drug-related violence, the weapons used in gun crime cases are rarely linked to law-abiding firearm owners. Instead, they often come through illegal channels smuggled, converted, or reactivated weapons that bypass regulatory checks entirely.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) has identified several key sources for these firearms:
Smuggling from Europe: Many firearms are trafficked through Eastern Europe, hidden in vehicles, parcels, or concealed luggage via ferry ports and the postal system.
Converted Blank-Firing Guns: Easily purchased online or at markets, these guns are modified illegally to function like live weapons.
3D-Printed Firearms: Criminals are starting to use tech to produce working parts that can be assembled into deadly weapons, becoming a growing concern.
Reactivated Historical Guns: Antique or deactivated guns, once considered harmless, are being reworked and sold through criminal channels.
Dark Web Purchases: Firearms can also be bought using cryptocurrency and delivered through complex, untraceable shipping routes.
These weapons are increasingly being used in both urban gang violence and rural criminal activity. As a result, the highest gun crime in the UK isn't just limited to major cities: it's spreading into previously considered low-risk areas as well.
This paints a worrying picture. Criminals are finding ways to evade laws, and in doing so, are putting communities at increasing risk. Whether it's through intimidation or actual shootings, these illegally sourced firearms pose a danger that's difficult to predict or contain.
Gun laws in the UK are among the strictest in the world. While ownership of certain types of firearms is permitted under strict licensing conditions, the possession, purchase, or use of most guns, especially handguns, is tightly controlled.
Despite this, gun crime still persists, mainly due to illegally sourced or converted firearms. But it is essential to note that when caught, offenders face serious legal consequences under UK law.
Firearms Act 1968 It is the core legislation covering the possession and use of firearms and ammunition in the UK.
Mandatory Licensing Anyone wishing to own or use a firearm must hold a valid firearms certificate (FAC) or shotgun certificate (SGC).
Ban on Handguns Private handgun ownership is largely illegal in the UK since the Firearms (Amendment) Act of 1997.
Possession without a Licence Being caught with a firearm without a certificate can result in up to 5 years imprisonment.
Use with Intent to Injure or Threaten It carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Let's understand what happens if someone is caught having an illegal firearm through a real-life case.
In February 2025, five men were jailed for converting 42 blank-firing pistols into lethal weapons.
These firearms, often bought legally and then modified, were linked to potential gang use.
The individuals: Connor Millington, Jordan Behan, John Riddiough, Colin Berry, and Sammy Hill, were part of an organised crime network operating across the West Midlands and North West.
The gang used 3D printers and modified tools to transform blank-firing pistols into live firearms, which were then sold to criminal groups.
They were caught and sentenced to a combined 68 years in prison, with individual sentences ranging from 8 to 18 years.
The case was led by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit.
Complete Case Source ROCU Police News
This case sets an explicit example that gun crime in the UK is handled with extreme seriousness by the law, even if the weapon has not been used to shoot.
Whether it's possession, supply, or conversion, the legal consequences are severe.
While most gun crimes in the UK involve illegally sourced weapons, licensed firearm holders must still follow strict rules to avoid legal trouble.
Always store guns in a locked cabinet, separate from ammunition.
Never lend your firearm to anyone, even temporarily.
Report lost, stolen, or damaged firearms immediately to the police.
Renew your Firearm/Shotgun Certificate on time; expired licences are treated as illegal possession.
Avoid transporting weapons without notifying local authorities.
Even a single careless mistake can lead to serious legal consequences. That is why it is crucial to exercise extreme caution when holding a legal firearm.
One case that captured the nation's attention and heartbreak was the tragic death of 9-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Liverpool.
In August 2022, Olivia was at home with her mother when a man being chased by a gunman forced his way into their house to hide. The gunman fired blindly through the door, hitting Olivia's mother in the wrist and fatally shooting Olivia in the chest. She died shortly after in the hospital.
Both men involved in this case had criminal records, but the victim of this fatal incident was an innocent child who had merely just begun her life. She wasn't outside or in a dangerous area; she was in the safety of her own home. And yet, she became another tragic victim of gun violence in the UK.
The man responsible, Thomas Cashman, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2023, with a minimum term of 42 years. The judge described the killing as truly shocking and warned of the growing threat illegal firearms pose in the UK.
This single case paints a terrifying picture: no one is truly safe from gun crime when it spills out of gang rivalries and onto everyday streets.
As a recap of the statistics we've discussed earlier, here's a combined visual summary that shows the shift in weapon use, gun-related threats, and offence trends.
Even though there has been a slight drop in total gun offences from 2022 to 23 to 2023 to 24, we shouldn't get comfortable. Air weapons and handguns have increased in use, especially in gang and youth-related crimes.
In over 17,000 incidents, guns were not fired, but were used to threaten, intimidate, or gain control, which is extremely dangerous to the public's sense of safety. Weapons, like converted blank-firing pistols or 3D-printed parts, are increasingly being used, especially by gangs operating across cities and rural counties.
Though statistics may fluctuate, what's evident is that the nature of gun crime in the UK is changing. It's no longer just happening in dark alleys it's creeping into homes, schools, and everyday places.
That's why we must do more to protect public spaces, especially where large crowds gather, such as shopping centres, events, stations, and nightlife venues.
One key step is to ensure that such locations are monitored by SIA-licensed professionals who are trained not only in security but also in calmly managing violent and high-pressure situations.
Hurak offers SIA-approved training for security professionals, enabling them to de-escalate threats, protect lives, and serve as the first line of defence against rising crime in the UK.
Explore our certified Security Training Courses and strengthen your frontline defence team.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there were 22,893 recorded firearm offences in the UK during 2023 to 24. This marks a 5% decrease from the previous year, showing some improvement in control measures, but concerns still remain due to changes in how firearms are being used, mostly for intimidation.
West Midlands currently records the highest rate of gun crime per 100,000 people. However, in terms of total volume, London (Metropolitan Police area) still reports the most firearm-related offences overall. Other cities such as Manchester, Birmingham, and Liverpool are also experiencing notable increases.
Illegal firearms often enter the UK through:
Smuggling from Eastern Europe.
Modifying blank-firing or deactivated guns.
Use of 3D-printed components.
Dark web purchases and postal shipments.
These sources are challenging to track and pose a significant concern for UK law enforcement.
Being caught with an illegal firearm can lead to:
Up to 5 years in prison for possession without a licence.
Life imprisonment for using a gun with the intent to injure or threaten.
Recent cases, like the 2025 West Midlands conversion gang, show courts are issuing lengthy sentences (8 to 18 years) even for weapon conversion and supply.
Gun deaths in the UK are relatively rare compared to other firearm offences. While there were over 22,000 firearm-related offences in 2023 to 24, only a small portion involved actual shootings. In fact, around 68% of cases involved firearms being used to threaten rather than being fired. Despite low fatality rates, the threat of gun violence remains serious, especially in gang-related crimes.
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