GUN crimes last year reached a staggering 10,340 offences, equal to an offence every 51 minutes. And that is only in England and Wales.

This figure amounts to a doubling of offences since Labour took power in 1997.

So much for Home Office Minister Alun Michael's assurance that the 1997 handgun ban had "put a brake on the development of a dangerous gun culture".

T. R. MILES (Mr)