DORSET Police recorded dozens of gun crimes during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, figures show.

Lockdowns and other coronavirus restrictions contributed to gun crime dropping nationally in the year to March, but police forces across England and Wales still logged thousands of offences.

Home Office figures show Dorset Police recorded 40 crimes involving firearms that year – and has dealt with 456 since police force level records began in 2007-08.

The National Police Chiefs' Council said there is more work to be done nationally to stop those intent on carrying weapons and prevent the "terrible consequences" of gun crime.

There were five firearm offences for every 100,000 people in the Dorset policing area in 2020-21 – down from six the year before.

The data covers crimes involving lethal firearms like shotguns and handguns and non-lethal weapons such as stun guns, but excludes offences involving air weapons.

It shows weapons were discharged or fired 29 times during incidents recorded by Dorset Police last year.

Chief Inspector Robert Mooney, of alliance firearms, said: “We have some of the toughest gun controls in the world and the figures show that Dorset is well below the national average.

“During the first COVID-19 National Lockdown reported overall crime fell and this enabled officers to focus on key priority areas, helping to make Dorset one of the safest counties in the country.

“Where intelligence is received indicating the possession of weapons or the intent to commit crime, Dorset Police will proactively act on that information to protect our communities. A number of these incidents involve offenders who are from outside of the county and reflect the work we are doing to disrupt county lines drugs gangs and organised crime.

“We are also committed to prevention work, which includes our Tactical Firearms Unit visiting schools to raise awareness of the dangers of possessing firearms and knives.

“We acknowledge there is more work to be done locally and nationally with partner agencies to identify those intent on carrying weapons and prevent the terrible consequences of gun crime.

“The current crimes involving the use of weapons is still very low and our communities should be assured Dorset is still one of the safest counties in the country. Clearly this is ongoing work, and we would urge anyone with information about those carrying illegal firearms to contact us by emailing 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or calling 101. In an emergency always dial 999.”