West Midlands Police Federation has welcomed moves by a local MP to criminalise guides to making 3D guns.

Preet Gill, the MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, presented a private members bill last year aimed at criminalising blueprints for 3D-printed weapons.

The plans are included in the new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.

Federation secretary Tim Rogers said the law changes would be welcomed by the branch, and he said he looked forward to discussing them with Ms Preet when they are due to meet next month.

Preet Gill, the MP for Birmingham Edgbaston.

He said: “As a Federation are of course supportive of the changes sought by Preet Gill MP.

“We have a meeting set up with her in March so will no doubt be discussing this, along with other issues at that time.”

3D weapons

Tim drew parallels to West Midlands Police’s knife crime campaign, which has called for bans on the online sale of bladed weapons, the marketing of them to children, and for tougher sentences.

He said he hoped that legislation to prevent the manufacture of 3D weapons was introduced in a more timely manner than knife crime laws.

Tim said: “There is no doubt that being able to manufacture weapons such as these so freely is in need of better regulation.

“We’ve had convictions and custodial sentences passed down in the region for using a 3D printer to make weapons, so anything that can deter people is welcomed.

Gun control

“I hope this takes effect more quickly than the work on which we led for the sale of knives.”

Ms Gill told the BBC: “While we have the most stringent gun laws in the world, this can actually undermine gun control in the United Kingdom.

“As organised crime changes, legislation must keep up.”

She added: “We want to make sure this doesn't become a trend so that is why nipping it in the bud early on to make it a criminal offense to share and download 3D gun blueprints.”

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