Firearms

In the UK it is illegal to possess most firearms without a licence and, partly as a consequence of that legislation, the UK has one of the lowest rates of firearm related crime in the world.

But, the number of offences involving the use of a firearm is growing and we have seen an increase in the number of cases where members are instructed to both prosecute and defend those accused of firearms offences.

Operation Deftmol/Chanco – Woolwich Crown Court

John Clifford currently instructed by CPS Serious Organised & Violent Crime Division and led by Ben Douglas-Jones K.C. in a case involving two firearms including a submachine gun, conspiracy to supply Class A and organised criminal gang activity.

R v AA (Snaresbrook CC) Daniel Cohen prosecuted defendant who was charged with possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition, namely a CZ52 self-loading pistol and 9mm bullets for use with the same weapon.  His defence at trial was that he had confiscated the weapon from terrorist organisations and that he would have handed it to police.  He was convicted after a 6 day trial.

R v DG & Ors – Kingston Crown Court Feryal Ertan instructed in a matter where the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life. It was alleged that the defendant with 5 others were able to supply a Mac 10 submachine gun along the chain before being stopped by armed officers. The defendant was alleged to be a ‘broker’ and the only evidence against him was circumstantial evidence, namely telephone evidence. The trial lasted 5 weeks.

John Clifford Instructed by CPS Serious Organised Crime Division in a case involving an arsenal of weapons including numerous firearms, explosives, smoke grenades, knives and forged I.D. documents. The firearms had been imported from Slovenia and Spain and then converted before being sold on to customers in the U.K.

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