Recommendation 36

As the Scottish Government told us: “The purpose of firearms licensing regulation is to protect public safety”.106 It is important for public safety that people can raise concerns about individuals who own, or are applying to own, firearms - for example, to express concerns about someone’s mental health.107 It is also important that people can raise these concerns anonymously. We have heard that it is “a fact that neighbours may be reluctant to notify the authorities about any suspicions that a license holder or otherwise might not now be suitable to possess weapons” as there is “a danger that reporting concerns might cause a backlash”.108 104 Q84 105 The Home Office’s statutory guidance on firearms licensing for Chief Officers of Police (published on 1 November 2021) sets out suitability requirements in Chapter 3. 106 Scottish Government (FLR0019) 107 Q22 108 Robert David Ware (FLR0017) 16 Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland