Recommendations & Conclusions
12 items
29
Conclusion
Third Report - Firearms licensing regul…
Accepted in Part
We have heard suggestions that the referee system could be made more robust, if certain people close to applicants could provide information about their suitability to own firearms. For example, in Canada, firearms licence applicants must provide details of their conjugal partners, over a period of two years, and they …
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We have heard suggestions that the referee system could be made more robust, if certain people close to applicants could provide information about their suitability to own firearms. For example, in Canada, firearms licence applicants must provide details of their conjugal partners, over a period of two years, and they are required to countersign the application forms. If this does not happen, the Chief Firearms Officer will tell applicants’ conjugal partners about the application.94 In the UK, statutory guidance only suggests that “a request from a partner or family member that the applicant should not hold a certificate should be taken into account”.95 However, this may not be an appropriate solution to the issue. As with canvassing for references, Assistant Chief Constable Alan Spiers, Strategic Firearms Commander for Police Scotland, stated that “[y]ou could have matters of coercion around domestic violence”96 if the UK were to introduce this step into the licensing process.97
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Government response AI summary
The government is seeking views on interviewing partners and household members with a record of violence and will look again at making the advice on domestic abuse clearer and emphasise the need to interview partners, relatives, and possibly former partners, if there are allegations of …
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Scotland Office
34
Recommendation
Third Report - Firearms licensing regul…
Accepted in Part
There is potential for conjugal partners to play a vital role in assessing individuals’ suitability to own firearms. In Canada’s firearms licensing system, conjugal partners play a key role in assessing whether applicants are fit to be entrusted with firearm - either by countersigning applications or (if this does not …
Read more
There is potential for conjugal partners to play a vital role in assessing individuals’ suitability to own firearms. In Canada’s firearms licensing system, conjugal partners play a key role in assessing whether applicants are fit to be entrusted with firearm - either by countersigning applications or (if this does not happen) discussing the application with police. Following Canada’s example by involving conjugal partners more closely in the UK’s firearms licensing process could help to ensure that only people who meet the statutory guidance’s suitability requirements105 are granted firearms licences.
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Government response AI summary
The government is seeking views on interviewing partners/household members with a record/allegations of violence, will look again at advice on domestic abuse, and intends to publish a further version of the Statutory Guidance by the end of 2023.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
35
Recommendation
Third Report - Firearms licensing regul…
Accepted in Part
We recommend that the UK Government change the statutory guidance on firearms licensing to more strongly recommend that police forces involve present and former conjugal partners in the application and renewal process. Echoing the system used in Canada, this could involve police interviewing individual’s present and former conjugal partners as …
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We recommend that the UK Government change the statutory guidance on firearms licensing to more strongly recommend that police forces involve present and former conjugal partners in the application and renewal process. Echoing the system used in Canada, this could involve police interviewing individual’s present and former conjugal partners as a routine part of firearms licence applications and renewals, to confirm that the individual is suitable to own firearms. While this option may be a helpful addition to the firearms licensing process, it is not without risk. We heard that pressure to provide a partner with a positive reference might aggravate domestic violence. It would also place an additional burden on police resources. We urge the UK Government to consider those risks and to put in place safeguards where appropriate. Contacting the police using a dedicated hotline
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Government response AI summary
The government will seek views in a consultation paper on interviewing partners and household members with a record or allegations of violence, and will look at clarifying advice on domestic abuse, with the intention to publish a further version of the Statutory Guidance by the …
Read full response →
Scotland Office
75
Recommendation
Third Report - Firearms licensing regul…
Accepted in Part
GPs can place ‘flags’ on patients’ medical records to alert clinicians that individuals own firearms.187 Both policy experts advocating gun control and shooting associations have expressed concern that the flagging system is inadequate. Professor Peter Squires, Professor Emeritus of Criminology and Public Policy at the University of Brighton, has stated …
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GPs can place ‘flags’ on patients’ medical records to alert clinicians that individuals own firearms.187 Both policy experts advocating gun control and shooting associations have expressed concern that the flagging system is inadequate. Professor Peter Squires, Professor Emeritus of Criminology and Public Policy at the University of Brighton, has stated that police needed to engage in “much more involvement with health services to ensure people with mental health problems didn’t get through the licensing system”188, while the British Shooting Sports Council told us that the flagging system as a whole is “unacceptably weak”.189 The Council said that: “In the absence of agreement from the medical profession for a GP to be required by law to place the marker, the Statutory Guidance envisages it 180 Q159 181 Q218 182 Q139 183 Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland, Facts about NHS funding in Scotland, accessed 8 December 2022 184 Home Office, Firearms licensing: statutory guidance for Chief Officers of Police, December 2021, page 8 185 “Dunblane victim’s dad calls for stricter gun laws after Skye shooting”, The National, 14 August 2022 186 Home Office, Firearms licensing: statutory guidance for Chief Officers of Police, December 2021, page 6 187 British Medical Association, The firearms licensing process, accessed 13 September 2022 188 BBC Sussex Radio, Interview of Professor Peter Squires by Danielle Perry, transcript accessed 13 September 2022 189 British Shooting Sports Council (FLR0010) Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland 25 being placed by the GP on a ‘best endeavours’ basis. We believe that to be inadequate insofar as it allows for the possibility that a medical practitioner is left unaware that the patient who he is treating may be in possession of firearms”.190
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Government response AI summary
The UK Government acknowledges the recommendation and highlights the development of a new digital firearms marker in England, offering to work with the Scottish Government if they decide to introduce a similar marker in Scotland; they are also seeking views on interim checks.
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Scotland Office
78
Recommendation
Third Report - Firearms licensing regul…
Accepted in Part
We recommend that the UK Government and the Scottish Government work together to review the GP flagging system. This review could address issues including communication between medical practitioners and the police, and problems which arise when firearms owners move medical practices. Medical reports by GPs
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We recommend that the UK Government and the Scottish Government work together to review the GP flagging system. This review could address issues including communication between medical practitioners and the police, and problems which arise when firearms owners move medical practices. Medical reports by GPs
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Government response AI summary
The UK Government acknowledges the recommendation and highlights the development of a new digital firearms marker in England, offering to work with the Scottish Government if they decide to introduce a similar marker in Scotland; they are also seeking views on interim checks.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
82
Recommendation
Third Report - Firearms licensing regul…
Accepted in Part
We recommend that the UK Government and Scottish Government work together to consult GPs on whether GPs’ engagement with the firearms licensing process should be made mandatory. GPs’ compulsory engagement may help GPs to flag health issues affecting firearms owners’ suitability to police more quickly and easily. Although this inquiry …
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We recommend that the UK Government and Scottish Government work together to consult GPs on whether GPs’ engagement with the firearms licensing process should be made mandatory. GPs’ compulsory engagement may help GPs to flag health issues affecting firearms owners’ suitability to police more quickly and easily. Although this inquiry has not included a consultation with GPs, it is imperative that such a consultation be carried out so that the UK Government is able to make evidence-based policy decisions on the matter of conscientious objection.
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Government response AI summary
The UK Government stands ready to work with the Scottish Government if they decide to introduce the digital marker to GP surgeries in Scotland and will work with the Scottish Government, if it decides that it wishes to adopt a similar digital marker in Scotland.
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Scotland Office
88
Conclusion
Third Report - Firearms licensing regul…
Accepted in Part
We heard concerns that firearms owners might not inform authority figures that they are suffering from poor mental health for fear of repercussions. For example, Dr Michael North, a founding member of the Gun Control Network, stated that firearms licence holders “will not consult with a GP or anybody else …
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We heard concerns that firearms owners might not inform authority figures that they are suffering from poor mental health for fear of repercussions. For example, Dr Michael North, a founding member of the Gun Control Network, stated that firearms licence holders “will not consult with a GP or anybody else for fear that they might lose their 211 Mr Andy Spence (FLR0006) 212 British Shooting Sports Council (FLR0010) 213 Anonymised (FLR0004) 214 Q83 215 Dr John Thorogood (FLR0005) 216 Q221 28 Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland licence”217, and Fraser Lamb, Firearms Licensing Adviser for the Scottish Association for Country Sports, told us that “[t]he myth is that if you went to your doctor with a mental health problem, the police will take your guns away from you”.218
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Government response AI summary
The government is consulting on the 'buddy' initiatives recommendation and is working with police and shooting bodies to define the role of gun club liaison officers, intending to explore whether this model can be applied more widely to other shooting clubs.
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Scotland Office
90
Conclusion
Third Report - Firearms licensing regul…
Accepted in Part
For this reason, it may be advisable to set up more formal ‘buddy’ initiatives within shooting organisations. This could involve each member of a shooting organisation having a ‘buddy’ with whom they check in regularly - allowing buddies to notice any changes in each other’s mental health in a timely …
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For this reason, it may be advisable to set up more formal ‘buddy’ initiatives within shooting organisations. This could involve each member of a shooting organisation having a ‘buddy’ with whom they check in regularly - allowing buddies to notice any changes in each other’s mental health in a timely manner, and escalate any concerns.
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Government response AI summary
The government is consulting on the 'buddy' initiatives recommendation and is working with police and shooting bodies to define the role of gun club liaison officers, intending to explore whether this model can be applied more widely to other shooting clubs.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
92
Recommendation
Third Report - Firearms licensing regul…
Accepted in Part
Presently, there is no formal channel by which shooting organisations may raise concerns about their members with the police. Assistant Chief Constable Alan Spiers, Strategic Firearms Commander for Police Scotland, noted that, at the moment, “[t]here is a great responsibility placed on shooting organisations and clubs to highlight concerns”225 of …
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Presently, there is no formal channel by which shooting organisations may raise concerns about their members with the police. Assistant Chief Constable Alan Spiers, Strategic Firearms Commander for Police Scotland, noted that, at the moment, “[t]here is a great responsibility placed on shooting organisations and clubs to highlight concerns”225 of their own accord. Additionally, with no official channel, the current arrangement relies 217 Q18 218 Q59 219 Q19 220 Q221 221 Q51 222 Q50 223 Q51 224 Q52 225 Q123 Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland 29 on individuals who have connections with police forces - like Fraser Lamb (formerly Head of Firearms Licensing for Police Scotland), who “because of my police service and intelligence background, know[s] how to sanitise that and to pass it on to the police so that they can turn it into whatever executive action is required”.226 An official channel for all members of any shooting organisation would mean that individuals could express their concerns to police more quickly and easily.
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Government response AI summary
The government is consulting on 'buddy' initiatives and intends to highlight the revised role for gun club liaison officers, and explore whether this model might be applied more widely to other shooting clubs.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
94
Recommendation
Third Report - Firearms licensing regul…
Accepted in Part
We recommend that the UK Government and Scottish Government encourage and support the creation of ‘buddy’ initiatives for firearms owners. Buddy initiatives could be integrated into shooting organisations, workplaces and sporting clubs. Buddy initiatives would enable individuals to recognise and raise concerns about changes in their buddies’ mental health. This …
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We recommend that the UK Government and Scottish Government encourage and support the creation of ‘buddy’ initiatives for firearms owners. Buddy initiatives could be integrated into shooting organisations, workplaces and sporting clubs. Buddy initiatives would enable individuals to recognise and raise concerns about changes in their buddies’ mental health. This would formalise existing informal arrangements within shooting organisations and clubs. Supporting shooting organisations in advertising mental health services
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Government response AI summary
The government is consulting on 'buddy' initiatives and will work with police and shooting bodies to highlight the revised role for gun club liaison officers, and then explore whether and how this model might be applied more widely to other shooting clubs.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
5
Conclusion
Third Report - Firearms licensing regul…
Accepted in Part
There is potential for conjugal partners to play a vital role in assessing individuals’ suitability to own firearms. In Canada’s firearms licensing system, conjugal partners play a key role in assessing whether applicants are fit to be entrusted with firearm - either by countersigning applications or (if this does not …
Read more
There is potential for conjugal partners to play a vital role in assessing individuals’ suitability to own firearms. In Canada’s firearms licensing system, conjugal partners play a key role in assessing whether applicants are fit to be entrusted with firearm - either by countersigning applications or (if this does not happen) discussing the Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland 33 application with police. Following Canada’s example by involving conjugal partners more closely in the UK’s firearms licensing process could help to ensure that only people who meet the statutory guidance’s suitability requirements are granted firearms licences.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government is seeking views on interviewing partners/household members with a record/allegations of violence, will look again at advice on domestic abuse, and intends to publish a further version of the Statutory Guidance by the end of 2023.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
6
Recommendation
Third Report - Firearms licensing regul…
Accepted in Part
We recommend that the UK Government change the statutory guidance on firearms licensing to more strongly recommend that police forces involve present and former conjugal partners in the application and renewal process. Echoing the system used in Canada, this could involve police interviewing individual’s present and former conjugal partners as …
Read more
We recommend that the UK Government change the statutory guidance on firearms licensing to more strongly recommend that police forces involve present and former conjugal partners in the application and renewal process. Echoing the system used in Canada, this could involve police interviewing individual’s present and former conjugal partners as a routine part of firearms licence applications and renewals, to confirm that the individual is suitable to own firearms. While this option may be a helpful addition to the firearms licensing process, it is not without risk. We heard that pressure to provide a partner with a positive reference might aggravate domestic violence. It would also place an additional burden on police resources. We urge the UK Government to consider those risks and to put in place safeguards where appropriate.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government will seek views in a consultation paper on interviewing partners and household members with a record or allegations of violence, and will look at clarifying advice on domestic abuse, with the intention to publish a further version of the Statutory Guidance by the …
Read full response →
Scotland Office