Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 84
84
Acknowledged
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health says that an individual’s mental health “can change...
Conclusion
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health says that an individual’s mental health “can change in a short period of time and fluctuate rapidly”.203 Despite this, in- depth checks are carried out on firearms owners only at initial applications and at five- yearly renewals. Dr North, a founding member of the Gun Control Network, stated that currently “there aren’t many ongoing checks between the five-year period”.204 The British Association for Shooting and Conservation went further, saying that there is “potentially no medical monitoring during the life of the certificate”.205 This is the more problematic because Dr North told us that “five years is often being extended now”206 due to the delays which some police forces are experiencing in processing renewals - some firearms owners whose licences have lapsed have been given “temporary permits”.207 Dr North stated that temporary permits mean that firearms owners “do not have to surrender their gun before renewal”208, meaning that they are in possession of firearms for longer without checks. Professor Peter Squires, Professor Emeritus of Criminology and Public Policy at the University of Brighton, quoting a 2015 report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services209, told us that this represents a “[f]ailure to undertake ongoing monitoring of health, including mental well-being”.210 For this reason, we have heard calls for ongoing or interim medical checks during the life of licences. 200 Q72 201 Q218 202 Q219 203 Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, Mental health, accessed 6 December 2022 204 Q20 205 British Association for Shooting and Conservation, Statutory guidance on firearms licensing published, accessed 13 September 2022 206 Q20 207 Q20 208 Q20 209 At the time of the 2015 report, this organisation was named ‘Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary’. 210 Professor Peter Squires (FLR0007) Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland 27
Government Response Summary
The government describes the strengthening of medical checks, including the digital firearms marker in England, and says it is ready to work with the Scottish Government if they decide to introduce a similar marker.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The GP role in firearms licensing The Committee made recommendations for changes to the GP role in firearms licensing, specifically around the GP medical marker, making their role mandatory in the process and their involvement in suggested interim checks during the life of a certificate. There has been significant strengthening of the medical checks for firearms licensing in the past couple of years, including making it a requirement for all applicants to provide relevant medical information to the police, and the development and introduction of a new digital firearms marker in England to ensure that the police are notified by the GP if there is a concerning deterioration in the certificate holder’s physical or mental health at any point after the grant of the certificate. The UK Government stands ready to work with the Scottish Government if they decide to introduce the digital marker to GP surgeries in Scotland. The Home Office will work with the Department of Health and Social Care and the Scottish Government on how to take forward the issues raised by the Committee about the medical aspects of firearms licensing, including the recommendation that GP involvement could be made mandatory. On the recommendation that the UK Government and Scottish Government work together to investigate the merits of medical practitioners and police conducting interim checks on firearms licence holders, you will see that we are seeking views on this in the consultation paper. It is the intention that the digital marker is applied by the GP in surgeries in England to the certificate holder’s medical record, to ensure that the police are notified of any concerning deterioration in the certificate holder’s physical or mental health at any point after the grant of the certificate. The Home Office will work with the Scottish Government, if it decides that it wishes to adopt a similar digital marker in Scotland. The Statutory Guidance also supports and details the requirements of continuous assessment by the police during the lifespan of a firearm or shotgun certificate, so that the police will receive information about the ongoing suitability of a certificate holder from any source during the life of the certificate.