Regulation of ‘sale and distribution of 3D printing devices’ needed, warns crime expert
A senior lecturer in criminology at Birmingham City University who specialises in studying organised crime and gangs, warned there is an “upward trend” in 3D-printed weapons.
It comes as the Government recently announced plans to criminalise the possession of blueprints for 3D-printed guns as part of a new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill – which had its second reading in Parliament on Monday (February 10).
“The UK prides itself on having some of the tightest and strictest gun control laws in the world. However, it has always faced firearms-related issues,” said Dr Mohammed Rahman.
“This concern is now growing as 3D-printed weapons are emerging at a steady pace, with cases across the country indicating an upward trend.”
These firearms and firearm components are manufactured using 3D printing technology. In the UK, they have emerged primarily through online networks, with law enforcement increasingly detecting them in criminal activities.
“While the police are intensifying efforts to clamp down on the manufacturing of these firearms, they face significant challenges, including the ease of accessing blueprints online, the difficulty in detecting and tracking unregistered weapons, and the ability of individuals to produce firearms discreetly at home,” said Dr Rahman.
“Moving forward, to proactively respond to this burgeoning issue, authorities may need to regulate the sale and distribution of 3D printing devices, impose stricter controls on firearm-related digital files, enhance public awareness of the legal consequences of manufacturing these weapons, and increase collaboration with technology firms to monitor and disrupt the online sharing of gun-printing schematics.”