To ask the Minister of Justice (i) to detail any plans she has to review legislation on the purchase and use of BB guns; and (ii) for her assessment of how current legislation is implemented.

(i)There are currently no plans to review the legislation on the purchase and use of BB guns in isolation, but this will be kept under review as part of a wider plan that my Department has to review the Northern Ireland legislative framework for firearms. Any proposed change to legislation will require full public consultation.

(ii)A BB or pellet gun is often categorised as a low powered air gun and may also be regarded as an imitation firearm. They are not required to be held on a firearm certificate, if their kinetic energy is less than one joule. There is already significant regulation in place on the control of these items in Northern Ireland.

It is an offence for a person under the age of 18 to purchase an imitation firearm. It is also an offence for a person to sell an imitation firearm to someone under the age of 18. Police have the power to seize and detain an imitation firearm if they have reasonable grounds for suspecting there is danger to public safety or to the peace.

A person under the age of 17 may not purchase an air gun (those with a kinetic energy in excess of one joule) and a person under 14 may not possess an air gun unless supervised by someone who is aged 21 or over.

Therefore, I am satisfied that there is sufficient legislation, particularly with regard to the age at which a person may possess or purchase such items and the age of a person to whom they may be sold.