Firearms licence information sharing
Failure of police to notify Firearms Licensing Departments of relevant prosecutions and neglect by licensing departments to check PNC records.
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Committee recommendation
90match
#12 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
Each firearms licence application and renewal is processed by the police force in the applicant’s local area.33 Individuals applying for, and renewing, firearms licences must demonstrate that they are not a “danger to public safety or the peace”34, and that “they require their firearm on a regular, legitimate basis for work, sport or leisure”.35 Individuals must provide character...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
PFD report
89match
Jason Palmer
The Firearms Unit lacked access to secure police logs detailing domestic incidents involving a serving police officer during his shotgun licence renewal. The coroner suggests that restricted logs could be reviewed at a senior level to share relevant information with the Firearms Unit for assessment.
Matched on
terms: firearm, information, licence
Committee recommendation
89match
#72 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
Medical assessments for firearms licence holders were being carried out in Scotland for several years before they were statutorily introduced in the UK. Keith Brown MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice for the Scottish Government, stated that Police Scotland have undertaken “mental health checks… going back to 2016”180, while Rt Hon. Chris Philp MP, Minister for Crime, Policing and...
Matched on
terms: firearm, information, licence
Inquiry recommendation
87match
DUNB-7 - Endorse police information exchange on firearm certificate holders and revocations
The steps being taken to enable police forces to hold and exchange information on computer as to the individuals who hold firearm certificates, and those whose firearm applications have been refused or certificates revoked are endorsed (para 8.23).
Matched on
terms: firearm, information
Inquiry recommendation
87match
F88 - Information sharing
The information contained in reports for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations should be made available to healthcare regulators through the serious untoward incident system in order to provide a check on the consistency of trusts' practice in reporting fatalities and other serious incidents.
Matched on
terms: information, sharing
Committee recommendation
86match
#87 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
We recommend 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. These checks would take place between licence application and renewal. Interim checks would allow police to observe more accelerated changes in individuals’ mental health, which might affect their suitability to own...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
86match
#85 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
Interim medical checks at regular intervals would enable GPs, and thus potentially police, to become aware of changes in individuals’ mental health during the life of firearms licences. Noticing changes soon after they emerge may mean that individuals could be given help before they experience significant deterioration in their mental health which, in firearms owners, could impact both...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
86match
#84 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
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...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
86match
#73 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
GPs’ involvement is key to the firearms licensing process. For example, Superintendent Steven Duncan, Head of National Firearms and Explosives Licensing for Police Scotland, told us: “We are quite clear that if your GP practice is not willing to put a flag on to your medical records, you are not getting granted a firearms certificate”.182 For this reason,...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
86match
#11 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
Finally, we heard from the Gun Control Network that “[t]he primary weakness in the regulatory system is how the licensing process is conducted”.29 The organisation stated that “the following may have contributed”30 to “failures in the process”31: “Inadequate guidance resulting in, for example, failure to require family and household members or GPs to be consulted about any mental...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
PFD report
85match
William Dowling & Victoria Rose
The coroner notes that General Practitioners lack a national mechanism to report ongoing patient information relevant to firearms license suitability due to confidentiality, potentially impeding crucial decisions for public safety. A pilot scheme has demonstrated the benefit of such information sharing.
Matched on
terms: firearm, information, sharing
Inquiry recommendation
83match
F95 - Information sharing
As the interests of patient safety should prevail over the narrow litigation interest under which confidentiality or even privilege might be claimed over risk reports, consideration should also be given to allowing the Care Quality Commission access to these reports.
Matched on
terms: information, sharing
Inquiry recommendation
83match
F89 - Information sharing
Reports on serious untoward incidents involving death of or serious injury to patients or employees should be shared with the Health and Safety Executive.
Matched on
terms: information, sharing
Committee recommendation
82match
#6 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
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...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
82match
#5 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
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...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
82match
#74 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
A key issue covered in firearms licensing is safety, in which firearms owners’ mental health plays a crucial role. The Home Office’s statutory guidance requires individuals who are applying for and renewing firearms licences to disclose relevant conditions like drug and alcohol related conditions184, depression, anxiety, and dementia.185 Since the Home Office’s statutory guidance came into effect in...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
82match
#52 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
It would be valuable to have a single, simple means by which to identify people applying for a firearms licence about whom concerns have been raised, to assist police when investigating these concerns.
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
82match
#49 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
Using application reference numbers in this way could allow police and individuals to communicate effectively, when individuals contact the police to express concern about those who own firearms, or are applying for firearms licences. This could also help to simplify internal communications for police.
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
PFD report
81match
Harold Ambrose
The coroner noted that information regarding firearms license holders was not consistently flagged on medical records and that there is no requirement for medical professionals to notify police of a license holder's deteriorating mental health.
Matched on
terms: firearm, information
PFD report
81match
Samuel Dickinson
The coroner identified gaps in firearms legislation, noting there is no requirement for licence holders to self-report illnesses, and no obligation for GP practices to record licence holding or report relevant issues to police.
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
78match
#71 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
We recommend that the UK Government make the the legislation related to shotgun licences consistent with legislation related to firearms and air weapon licences. We recommend that the UK Government change shotgun licence legislation to require people applying for shotgun licences to demonstrate that they are ‘fit to be entrusted’ with shotguns, and to provide character references from...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
78match
#50 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
So that concerns can be raised at the earliest opportunity, Reverend Gordon Matheson suggested that people seeking a reference should need to provide potential referees with their unique application reference number.132 This would mean that, if someone has concerns about an application which is in the process of being made, “their concerns can be relayed in connection to...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
PFD report
77match
John Hill
The coroner noted that Dorset Police's firearms licensing procedure does not routinely include enquiries with family members or those living with an applicant. This omission risks missing vital information that could impact the decision to grant a firearms certificate, even when there is no evidence of domestic abuse.
Matched on
terms: firearm, information
PFD report
77match
Jairus Earl
Concerns are raised regarding gaps in shotgun licence regulation, specifically the lack of obligation for holders to notify police about moving or storing shotguns at different properties. The less stringent nature of shotgun regulation compared to firearms poses a risk.
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
77match
#83 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
If a review concludes that it is inadvisable to make GPs’ engagement with the firearms licensing process mandatory, we recommend that statutory guidance emphasise the strong expectation that GPs who object conscientiously to engaging with the firearms licensing process will pass on applicants to another GP in the same practice, where there is one. Interim checks on licence...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
77match
#56 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
We heard in evidence about some of the potential benefits of shortening the length of time before a renewal was required. Dr Michael North (a founding member of the Gun Control Network) told us that the Gun Control Network “would certainly argue in favour of a shorter period… [because] some of the personal circumstances of gun owners are...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
77match
#48 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
It has been suggested that these issues could be addressed by assigning unique reference numbers to firearms licence applications and renewal applications. Police forces in the UK already give application numbers to applicants and certificate numbers to people who have been granted firearms licences130, and personal identification numbers and application reference numbers are used already by the Police...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
77match
#58 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
However, we heard from Dr Colin Shedden, Director Scotland for the British Association of Shooting and Conservation, that shooting organisations have “an expectation that we could move to 10 years”152 between an original licence application and its renewal. Dr Shedden questioned “why waste more police time at these renewals, when we can extend it to 10 years, knowing...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
PFD report
75match
Richard Haddock
The police process for notifying the Firearms Licensing Department of prosecutions was ineffective, and the department did not check a relevant PNC record for over a year before returning a shotgun.
Matched on
terms: firearm
Committee recommendation
74match
#75 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
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...
Matched on
terms: firearm
PFD report
73match
Keith Weston
The coroner identified a lack of automatic Police National Computer checks for individuals facing prosecution by non-police authorities, which prevents firearms licensing bodies from assessing their continued suitability to possess a firearm.
Matched on
terms: firearm
Committee recommendation
73match
#64 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
We recommend that the current renewal period of five years remain in place for the time being. However, we recommend that the renewal period should be kept under review, particularly if an alternative, workable method of mental health monitoring and assessment were to be introduced, which we look at in the next Chapter of this Report. Differences in...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
73match
#3 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
The referee system has merit in protecting public safety and the peace; but we have significant concerns about the referee system for the firearms licensing process, which must be addressed before it is fit for purpose. These include concerns about applicants canvassing for referees, and lack of mandatory consultation with people close to firearms licence applicants. We heard...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
73match
#2 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
We recommend that the UK Government put in place a two-tier system of firearms licence costs. This system ought to require individuals who use firearms for leisure to pay the full cost of their licence applications, with no immediate financial cost to police forces or the taxpayer. The second tier would apply to those who use firearms for...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
73match
#88 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
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...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
73match
#70 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
Police and officials pointed out the inconsistencies between firearms and shotgun licensing requirements, as described in legislation. To resolve these inconsistencies, they were clear that shotgun licensing requirements ought to be brought into line with licensing requirements for firearms and air weapons. These inconsistencies include: • applicants for shotgun licences not being required to demonstrate that they are...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
73match
#66 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
Superintendent Steven Duncan, Head of National Firearms and Explosives Licensing for Police Scotland, told us that, to obtain firearms licences, “you have been deemed to be fit to be entrusted, that you have had good reason for the possession of the firearm, and that that possession would be without danger to public safety”.169 By contrast, to obtain shotgun...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
73match
#61 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
Rt Hon. Chris Philp MP, Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire for the Home Office, summarised the advantages and disadvantages of shortening and lengthening the firearms licence renewal period: “If the length of time were reduced, it would catch change in circumstances faster but, equally, it would impose a higher burden on the police operationally and additional administration...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
73match
#60 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
Keith Brown MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice for the Scottish Government, told us that “you would likely want to have shorter timescales”159 for firearms licence renewal periods, and that this is “certainly something worth looking at”.160 However, the Cabinet Secretary stated that “if we are to reduce it, of course, that increases the workload for police and others”.161...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Inquiry recommendation
70match
DUNB-6 - Extend firearm dealer and club inspection powers to authorised civilian officers
The powers enjoyed by police officers to inspect dealers' registers and premises and approved clubs should be extended to civilian licensing and enquiry officers who are authorised in writing for that purpose by the Chief Constable (para 8.16).
Matched on
terms: firearm
Committee recommendation
70match
#82 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
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...
Matched on
terms: firearm
Committee recommendation
70match
#78 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
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
Matched on
terms: firearm
Committee recommendation
70match
#76 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
Keith Brown MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice for the Scottish Government, told us: “We are aware that there can sometimes be some technical challenges to using the marker, for example when a patient moves between practices, and we are continuing to work with the police and with doctors”.191 The Cabinet Secretary suggested that the flagging system “this could...
Matched on
terms: firearm
Committee recommendation
70match
#53 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
We recommend that, when approaching potential referees, applicants would be required by police to share their unique application reference numbers with those referees. This would make it simpler to report concerns about applicants to the police. Such a system would be valuable both for those who decline to give references, and for those who give references but subsequently...
Matched on
terms: firearm
PFD report
69match
Maxine Davison, Lee Martyn, Sophie Martyn, Stephen Washington and Kate Shepherd
The coroner noted that numerous recommendations from previous inquiries regarding training for police staff involved in firearms licensing decisions had not been implemented. There has been a long-standing failure to develop and maintain nationally accredited training for firearms licensing staff, including in assessing applicant suitability.
Matched on
terms: firearm
Committee recommendation
69match
#69 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
Rt Hon. Chris Philp MP, Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire for the Home Office, stated that “the test is set differently … [because] there are many people particularly in rural communities, and including across Scotland as much as anywhere else, where the possession and use of shotguns are part of rural life”.176 However, Superintendent Duncan stated that...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
69match
#68 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
The differences between firearms and shotgun legislation extend beyond obtaining licences - there are also differences related to revoking licences. Superintendent Duncan stated that: “if you lose your good reason to possess a firearm, we are empowered to withdraw your certificate. However, the same cannot be said for shotguns: if you no longer have a good reason, it...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
69match
#67 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
Additionally, the number of referees required to obtain firearms licences is higher than for shotgun licences.172 Superintendent Duncan told us that “For a firearm application you are required to provide two referees, for a shotgun application, you are required to provide one”.173
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
69match
#65 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
There are differences in requirements which applicants must meet, in order to obtain firearms licences and shotgun licences. Although legislation related to air weapons is devolved167, Superintendent Duncan told us that “the air weapons test is effectively the same test that would be applied to a firearm”168 - further highlighting the difference between these requirements and the requirements...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence
Committee recommendation
69match
#62 - Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
The Minister told us that “[i]t is a balance… [t]he balance is currently struck at five years”.165 He suggested that the Home Office would be willing to consider reviewing the firearms licence renewal period, saying: “we are very happy to look at evidence arguing both ways… I would be very interested to see that in your report and...
Matched on
terms: firearm, licence