Firearms licence information sharing
Failure of police to notify Firearms Licensing Departments of relevant prosecutions and neglect by licensing departments to check PNC records.
Source spread
Where this theme appears
This theme appears across 6 independent accountability sources, so the source mix matters as much as the headline total.
28 inquiry recs
17 PFD reports
98 committee recs
1 Scottish FAI
40 DHR recs
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Inquiry recommendations(28)
DUNB-20 — Mandate club applicants to declare prior refused or revoked firearm certificates
Recommendation: Each applicant for membership of an approved club should be required to state whether or not he or she has submitted any prior application for a firearm certificate or a shot gun certificate which has been refused; and whether he …
Unknown
DUNB-19 — Mandate approved clubs to inform police of membership applications and outcomes
Recommendation: Each approved club should be required to inform the police of the receipt of an application for membership; and the outcome of the application (para 8.71).
Unknown
DUNB-17 — Require police satisfaction of applicant fitness for firearm certificate granting
Recommendation: Section 27(1) of the Firearms Act 1968 should include as one of the conditions on which the granting or renewal of a firearm certificate is dependent that the chief officer of police is satisfied that the applicant is fit to …
Unknown
DUNB-13 — Mandate approved clubs to report year-long non-attendance by firearm certificate holders
Recommendation: Each approved club should be required to inform the police when a member who is the holder of a firearm certificate has not attended a meeting of the club for a period of a year (para 8.51).
Unknown
DUNB-12 — Mandate approved clubs to inform police when firearm certificate holders cease membership
Recommendation: Each approved club should be required to inform the police when a holder of a firearm certificate has ceased to be a member of the club for whatever reason (para 8.50).
Unknown
DUNB-11 — Mandate firearm certificate holders to join and specify an approved club
Recommendation: Every holder of a firearm certificate should be required to be a member of at least one approved club; and the firearm certificate should specify the approved club or clubs of which he or she is a member and the …
Unknown
DUNB-10 — Mandate approved clubs to register firearm certificate holders' attendance and firearm usage
Recommendation: Each club which is approved for the purposes of section 15 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 should be required to maintain a register of the attendance of its members who are holders of firearm certificates, together with details as …
Unknown
DUNB-7 — Endorse police information exchange on firearm certificate holders and revocations
Recommendation: 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).
Unknown
DUNB-6 — Extend firearm dealer and club inspection powers to authorised civilian officers
Recommendation: 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).
Unknown
DUNB-5 — Extend firearm search warrant powers to authorised civilian licensing officers
Recommendation: The power of search with warrant under section 46 of the Firearms act 1968 should be extended to any civilian licensing and enquiry officer who is authorised in writing for that purpose by the Chief Constable (para 8.15).
Unknown
DUNB-4 — Extend firearm search warrant powers for substantial public safety risk
Recommendation: The power of search with warrant under section 46 of the Firearms Act 1968 should be extended to cases in which there is reasonable ground for suspecting that there is a substantial risk to the safety of the public; and …
Unknown
F95 — Information sharing
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: Accepted. In response to the Caldicott Review, Information: To Share or Not to Share (2013), the Department of Health stated that health and care professionals must make decisions about how information is shared and used …
Accepted
F89 — Information sharing
Recommendation: Reports on serious untoward incidents involving death of or serious injury to patients or employees should be shared with the Health and Safety Executive.
Gov response: Accepted in principle. The Care Quality Commission is the regulator of the safety and quality of health and adult social care providers in England. Providers registered with the Care Quality Commission are required to notify …
Accepted in part
F88 — Information sharing
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Accepted in principle. Access to accurate and up to date information and intelligence is essential to the effective regulation of health and adult social care providers by the Care Quality Commission. In practice, few patient …
Accepted in part
DUNB-24 — Mandate secure disablement or ban individual possession of target shooting handguns
Recommendation: Consideration should be given to restricting the availability of self-loading pistols and revolvers of any calibre which are held by individuals for use in target shooting o preferably, by their disablement, while they are not in use, by either (i) …
Unknown
DUNB-23 — Restrict appeal scope against police chief's discretionary decisions on firearms
Recommendation: Consideration should be given to the reform of the scope for appeal against decisions of the chief officer of police by restricting it to enumerated grounds which do not trench on the exercise of his discretion (para 8.119).
Unknown
DUNB-22 — Consult on providing applicant medical history to forensic medical examiners
Recommendation: The proposal by the Association of Police Surgeons for the provision by the applicant's medical practitioner of information as to the applicant's medical history and its consideration by a forensic medical examiner should be the subject of consultation with the …
Unknown
DUNB-21 — Replace firearm application counter-signatory requirement with two references
Recommendation: The current requirement for a counter-signatory of a firearm application should be abolished; and replaced by a system for the provision of two references (para 8.81).
Unknown
DUNB-18 — Include definition of "fitness" for firearm entrustment in police guidance
Recommendation: It is desirable that the Guidance to the Police should contain advice as to the scope of "fitness" to be entrusted with a firearm and ammunition (para 8.64).
Unknown
DUNB-16 — Revise and align sections 27(1) and 30(1) of the Firearms Act 1968
Recommendation: The language of section 30(1) of the Firearms Act 1968 should be brought into full correspondence with that of section 27(1); and each revised in order to achieve a logical and consistent arrangement (paras 8.62 and 8.65).
Unknown
DUNB-15 — Establish explicit statutory criteria for approving firearms clubs
Recommendation: Explicit statutory provision should be made for the laying down of criteria for the approval of clubs for the purpose of section 15 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 (para 8.53).
Unknown
DUNB-14 — Require approved clubs to appoint a police liaison officer
Recommendation: The proposal that each club should appoint a person to act as a liaison officer with the police is endorsed (para 8.52).
Unknown
DUNB-9 — Amend Firearms Act to allow revocation for lack of good reason
Recommendation: Section 30(1) of the Firearms Act 1968 should be amended so as to provide for - o the revocation of a firearm certificate on the ground that the chief officer of police is satisfied that the holder does not have …
Unknown
DUNB-8 — Advise police that "good reason" for firearms implies intention and use
Recommendation: The Guidance to the Police should advise that good reason implies intention; and that lack of past use prima facie indicates the lack of it (para 8.30).
Unknown
DUNB-3 — Provide comprehensive training and guidance for firearm enquiry officers
Recommendation: Enquiry officers should be given as much training and guidance for their work as is practicable (para 8.13).
Unknown
DUNB-2 — Endorse enquiry officer checklists, requiring reporting of applicant suitability concerns
Recommendation: The use of checklists by enquiry officers is endorsed, subject to the need for them to be alert to and report anything which could be relevant to the suitability of the applicant or certificate holder (paras 8.10-8.11).
Unknown
DUNB-1 — Ensure officers receive full advance information for exercising caution during enquiries
Recommendation: Officers carrying out enquiries should be supplied in advance with full information about any known change of circumstances and any reason for exercising particular caution (para 8.9).
Unknown
AG-7 — Recording of Firearms Operations
Recommendation: The National Police Chiefs’ Council (“NPCC”) should, in the formulation of policy, take into account that, when establishing the facts, discharging investigative obligations and ensuring openness and transparency following the discharge of a firearm by a police officer in the …
Gov response: 31. The Government understands that body worn video (BWV) is now a requirement for all Armed Response Vehicle officers. Specialist Firearms Officers use BWV when deployed overtly. NPCC have issued guidance to encourage the use …
Accepted
Prevention of Future Deaths reports(17)
Robert Wilkinson
Concerns: The coroner noted the absence of a face-to-face meeting with the deceased before revoking firearms certificates, and that the revocation letter was not personally served by police, with the decision communicated via family.
Response (Durham Constabulary): • The Constabulary stated that face-to-face meetings would be undertaken when they add value to a review and now form part of the structured review process. • The Constabulary reported … (AI summary)
Responded
William Dowling & Victoria Rose
Concerns: 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.
Overdue
Jason Palmer
Concerns: 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.
Response (Devon Cornwall Police): • A thorough review of procedures and policies was undertaken to address the concern. • An electronic system was introduced to alert the Firearms Licensing Unit to incident logs relating … (AI summary)
Responded
Harold Ambrose
Concerns: 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.
Overdue
Alice Gross
Concerns: The coroner noted that checks for foreign convictions are not mandatory across all UK police forces or consistently undertaken for UK nationals. Concerns were raised regarding the need for robust international data sharing on serious convictions and contingency planning for intelligence access post-Brexit.
Response (Home Office): • The Home Office stated that mechanisms have been in place since 2010 for police to conduct criminal records checks on foreign nationals arrested in the UK, utilising systems such … (AI summary)
Responded
Richard Davies
Concerns: The coroner raises concerns about Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police's use of unbonded 5.56mm ammunition, which was not the type recommended by ACPO since 2005 due to identified fragmentation risks.
Response (Bedfordshire Police): • The BCH APU has moved to using 55 grain tactical bonded 5.56 ammunition, as recommended in the May 2012 ACPO circular, for all operational purposes. • The BCH APU … (AI summary)
Overdue
John Hill
Concerns: 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.
Response: • Dorset Police reviewed local guidance. • The case study and recommendations were discussed at a national level with the NPCC lead. • New Firearms Enquiry Officer accreditation standards, which … (AI summary)
Response (Durham Constabulary): • The Constabulary will endeavour to include lessons learned from Mr Hill's death in the Home Office's upcoming public consultation on firearms certificate guidance. • These lessons will particularly focus … (AI summary)
Responded
Christine Lee
Concerns: The coroner identified an absence of mandatory comprehensive national training for Firearms Enquiry Officers. Concerns were also raised regarding the system for assessing medical fitness of shotgun certificate applicants, including undeclared conditions and inadequate guidance on what medical conditions applicants must declare.
Overdue
Emiel Malinski
Concerns: The coroner noted minimal regulation of miniature rifle ranges under the Firearms Act 1968. This raises concerns about absent safety requirements for user declarations, secure weapon handling, constant competent supervision, and appropriate first aid provisions.
Response (Home Office): • The Home Office is reviewing the exemption for miniature rifle ranges under section 11(4) of the Firearms Act 1968. • A public consultation on tightening controls for miniature rifle … (AI summary)
Responded
Keith Weston
Concerns: 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.
Overdue
Nicholas Dumphreys
Concerns: The informal structure of the National Association of Police Fleet Managers may not robustly disseminate safety-critical information to all forces. Furthermore, there is no formal policy to prevent faulty police vehicles from being auctioned to the public, and no national standards for police garages.
Response (National Police Chiefs Council): • A reorganisation of the NPCC Fleet structure has taken place, and a new NPCC-led governance and delivery structure is being established to ensure NPCC ownership and direction of all … (AI summary)
Responded
Michael Roberts
Concerns: An inaccurate DBS certificate failed to record a past violent offence, which allowed Mr Roberts to be employed in a role with access to firearms. The coroner noted it was unclear whether the error originated with the DBS or the Metropolitan Police Service.
Overdue
Maxine Davison, Lee Martyn, Sophie Martyn, Stephen Washington and Kate Shepherd
Concerns: 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.
Response (North Wales Police): • The force conducted a full review of 34 cases in 2021 where firearms certificates had been returned, finding the decisions to be correct. • Current practice includes bimonthly dip … (AI summary)
Response (Avon and Somerset Police): • Avon and Somerset Police completed a review of all certificates that had been seized, refused, revoked, or surrendered and then subsequently approved over the past five years. • The … (AI summary)
Response (Merseyside Police): • Merseyside Police Firearms Enquiry Officers have completed nationally recognised training and are enrolled in online training. • The force has a robust governance structure, including a risk matrix, and … (AI summary)
Response (Dorset Police): • Dorset Police revised its training provision for the Firearms and Explosives Licensing Unit, delivering a bespoke program to all staff. • All staff completed a Firearms Enquiry Officer course, … (AI summary)
Response (South Wales Police): • South Wales Police conducted a peer review of firearms certificates in October 2021, and a further review covering a five-year period is currently underway. • Since 2021, South Wales … (AI summary)
Response (North Yorkshire Police): • North Yorkshire Police established a Gold group to oversee its response to the PFD reports. • The force commenced a review of records related to firearms certificates seized, refused, … (AI summary)
Response (Lancashire Constabulary): • Lancashire Constabulary staff received a 3-day training package in November 2021, and a programme of continuous professional development has been introduced. • In-house training has been provided for Force … (AI summary)
Response (Greater Manchester Police): • Greater Manchester Police is reviewing 70-80 firearms certificate cases from the past five years where certificates were previously seized, refused, revoked, or surrendered and then subsequently approved, with this … (AI summary)
Response (College of Policing): • The College of Policing is developing revised and updated Authorised Professional Practice (APP) on firearms licensing. • The College stated it would develop a national training course for firearms … (AI summary)
Response (Surrey Police): • Surrey Police Firearms Enquiry Officers and supervisors have attended a firearms licensing course. • All Firearms and Explosives Licensing Unit staff received training on Statutory Guidance in 2022, which … (AI summary)
Response (Norfolk Constabulary): • Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies commissioned external training for all Firearms Licensing Unit Enquiry and Licensing officers, commencing in May 2023. • The Constabularies committed to a strategic review of … (AI summary)
Response (Gloucestershire Constabulary): • Gloucestershire Constabulary confirmed that a review would be undertaken. • The Constabulary indicated it would endeavour to complete these reviews by 2 October 2023. (AI summary)
Response (Essex Police): • Essex Police stated it would review all decisions to return firearms over a five-year period, with completion anticipated by October 2023. • The force confirmed it had delivered local … (AI summary)
Response (Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police): • The force has instructed three reviews of past firearms licensing decisions and intelligence reports, allocating additional resources for their completion within six months. • Force policy and procedures were … (AI summary)
Response (West Mercia Police): • West Mercia Police has developed a local training package for Firearms Licensing Unit staff and is working to present it for potential national adoption. • The force will conduct … (AI summary)
Response (Kent Police): • Kent Police has directed a review of firearms and shotgun licensing within the force. • The review will prioritise 102 cases where certificates were seized or surrendered and then … (AI summary)
Response (Sussex Police): • Sussex Police will undertake a review of firearms and shotgun licensing decisions made over the last five years, prioritising cases where firearms were seized and subsequently returned. • The … (AI summary)
Response (Durham Constabulary): • Durham Constabulary's Firearms Enquiry Officers receive annual training and continuing professional development in approved practice. • New staff joining the department are supported through tutorship, mentoring, and continuing professional … (AI summary)
Response (City of London Police): • The City of London Police stated it would review its Standard Operating Procedures for firearms licensing, covering applications, annual renewals, and returns, to ensure robust checks across medical, crime … (AI summary)
Response (Northamptonshire Police): • Northamptonshire Police committed to prioritising reviews of cases where firearms were returned after seizure or surrender. • The force stated it would review cases where applications were refused or … (AI summary)
Response (West Midlands Police): • The attached report details actions taken and proposed concerning a review of firearms certificates over the past five years. • The attached report outlines the training undertaken by staff … (AI summary)
Response (Nottinghamshire Police): • Nottinghamshire Police has identified a dedicated resource and commenced a review of firearms licensing decisions, working backwards from April 2023 for a period of four years. • The review … (AI summary)
Response (Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales): • The Lord Chief Justice stated that the report did not substantiate the suggestion that judges are not giving firearms licensing appeals necessary consideration or applying incorrect legal tests. • … (AI summary)
Response (Devon and Cornwall Police): • Devon and Cornwall Police completed a review of firearms certificates from January 2020 onwards that had been seized, refused, revoked, or surrendered and then subsequently approved, identifying cases requiring … (AI summary)
Response (Leicestershire Police): • Leicestershire Police stated it would review all certificates seized, refused, revoked, or surrendered and subsequently approved over the past five years, from April 2018. • The review will be … (AI summary)
Response (Metropolitan Police Service): • The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) developed and delivered its own training package for Firearms Enquiry Team (FET) staff, ensuring ongoing accreditation, continuous professional development, and regular updates to reflect … (AI summary)
Response (Staffordshire Police): • Staffordshire Police provided details of actions taken and proposed regarding a review of firearms certificates over the last five years. • Staffordshire Police provided details of training undertaken and … (AI summary)
Response (Home Office): • The Home Office initiated a public consultation on recommendations concerning police power of entry, mandatory prohibition thresholds, and the referee system for firearms licensing. • The government stated it … (AI summary)
Response (Thames Valley Police): • Thames Valley Police stated it would review all seized and returned guns over a five-year period. • The force indicated it would review all grants that had previously been … (AI summary)
Response (Devon and Cornwall Police): • Devon and Cornwall Police completed a review of 611 firearms and shotgun certificates issued between May 2018 and December 2019. • The review identified 11 cases where internal processes … (AI summary)
Response (Suffolk Constabulary): • Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies stated they would carry out a review of a significant sample of cases, with a wider review to be triggered if concerns are identified. • … (AI summary)
Response (Derbyshire Police): • Derbyshire Police has improved IT systems for recording and sharing information on firearms licence holders, including automatic notifications to the firearms licensing team. • Firearms Enquiry Officers have received … (AI summary)
Response (Warwickshire Police): • Warwickshire Police will adopt a national approach to review firearms and shotgun licensing decisions. • The review will prioritise cases where firearms were seized or surrendered and subsequently returned, … (AI summary)
Response (Dyfed Powys Police): • Dyfed Powys Police will undertake a further review of decision files where firearms have been seized following an incident and subsequently returned. • The force will formalise a training … (AI summary)
Responded
Emma, Ellette and George Pattison
Concerns: The coroner noted that applicants for shotgun certificates can obtain medication online without their GP's knowledge, risking incomplete disclosure of medical history to licensing authorities. Concerns were also raised about how authorities can obtain full disclosure of an applicant's history of coercive controlling behaviour.
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): • The Department confirmed that digital markers were fully rolled out to all GP IT systems in England by May 2023, enabling GPs to note a patient's firearms certificate and … (AI summary)
Response (National Police Chiefs' Council): • A new National Firearms Enquiry Officer’s Course has been designed and developed, with delivery scheduled to commence in November 2024. • The medical declaration for applicants has been changed … (AI summary)
Response (Surrey Police): • Surrey Police has revised its practice to ensure Firearms Enquiry Officers (FEOs) ask applicants about the use of other medical services during visits. • The force is consulting with … (AI summary)
Response (GPC): • The GPC stated it would update its guidance to reflect the potential information gap if external prescribers do not share information or are not supplied with relevant patient information. … (AI summary)
Response (The Home Office): • The Home Office intends to amend the firearms and shotgun licence application form to require applicants to provide details of consultations with online or third-party prescribers who are not … (AI summary)
Responded
Jairus Earl
Concerns: 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.
Response (National Police Chiefs Council): • The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) successfully worked with the Home Office to strengthen statutory guidance for home visits, requiring interviews with household members during firearms licensing assessments. • … (AI summary)
Response (Home Office): • The Home Office stated it would amend the firearm and shotgun application form to request details of any second residences where guns may be held. • Statutory Guidance for … (AI summary)
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): • The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed that a digital marker system for firearms certificate holders was fully rolled out to all GP IT systems in England by … (AI summary)
Responded
Richard Haddock
Concerns: 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.
Response (Devon Cornwall Police): • A Continuous Assessment Team (CAT) has been established within the Firearms Licensing and Explosives Unit (FELU) to conduct ongoing suitability reviews of firearms and shotgun licence holders. • Daily … (AI summary)
Responded
Samuel Dickinson
Concerns: 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.
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): • The Department confirmed the full rollout of a digital marker system for firearms certificates to all GP IT systems in England by May 2023. • The system enables GPs … (AI summary)
Response (Home Office): • The Home Office stated it would introduce a new Statutory Instrument to require firearms and shotgun licence holders to report new or worsening medical conditions and consultations with third-party … (AI summary)
Responded
Select committee recommendations(98)— showing 50 strongest matches
#7 —
Recommendation: A single, dedicated channel for reporting concerns about people who own, or are applying to own, firearms could make that process simpler and easier. However, a dedicated hotline may be too difficult to resource and we are very much aware …
Response attribution not verified
#6 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#5 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#87 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#85 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#84 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#82 —
Recommendation: 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’ …
Response attribution not verified
#78 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#76 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#75 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#74 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#73 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#71 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#53 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#52 —
Recommendation: 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.
Response attribution not verified
#50 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#49 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#47 —
Recommendation: We heard (for example, from Reverend Gordon Matheson) that people close to an individual may not know that they own, or are applying to own, firearms.129 This lack of knowledge may prevent family and friends from reporting concerns about an …
Response attribution not verified
#12 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#11 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#102 —
Recommendation: We recommend that the UK Government and Scottish Government work together either to put mental health resources like counselling in place in remote rural communities, or to ensure that mental health resources can be easily accessed in rural communities when …
Response attribution not verified
#83 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#64 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#56 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#48 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#4 —
Recommendation: We recommend that the UK Government conduct a review of the referee system, to determine whether it is fit for purpose. This review ought to address the issue of individuals canvassing for positive references, or putting pressure on people to …
Response attribution not verified
#3 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#2 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#94 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#92 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#90 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#89 —
Recommendation: However, Dr North stated that “[i]t is telling how many cases there have been where somebody’s poor mental health has been apparent retrospectively and then it has been revealed that somebody close to them was well aware of it, yet …
Response attribution not verified
#88 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#81 —
Recommendation: However, it may not be necessary to make GPs’ involvement mandatory. We heard from Superintendent Steven Duncan, Head of National Firearms and Explosives Licensing for Police Scotland, that the number of GPs who choose not to provide medical reports as …
Response attribution not verified
#80 —
Recommendation: Dr Colin Shedden, Director Scotland for the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, told us that “the fact that GPs are not legally obliged to participate, so they can opt out under the conscientious objector banner” is “the one area …
Response attribution not verified
#79 —
Recommendation: If a GP conscientiously objects to firearms, they might refuse to engage with the licensing process.193 In this case, applicants must obtain a report from another licensed medical practitioner.194 The British Medical Association supports GPs’ right to conscientiously object to …
Response attribution not verified
#77 —
Recommendation: The GP flagging system is valuable, but we believe that it could be strengthened in order to make it as effective as possible.
Response attribution not verified
#72 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#70 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#69 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#68 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#67 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#66 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#65 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#63 —
Recommendation: We have heard that the current renewal period of five years is appropriate. We have heard that there is scope to consider lengthening the renewal period in order to free police resources, although we are concerned that this would reduce …
Response attribution not verified
#62 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#61 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#60 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#59 —
Recommendation: Overall, there is no general agreement on whether the current five-year renewal period should be shortened or lengthened. This means that there may be little value in changing it. Presently, Superintendent Duncan stated, “the reality is that a large majority …
Response attribution not verified
#58 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
Domestic Homicide Reviews(40)
Kent — recommendation 1
The GP Surgery should establish a protocol for reviewing patients who have presented at A&E following a suicide attempt. This will include dealing with scanned correspondence in a timely manner and agreeing with Kent Police a process to notify them should a Firearms licence holder and/or applicant make a suicide …
ICB and Kent Police
Herefordshire — recommendation P1
West Mercia and Warwickshire Police Firearms Licencing Departments to consider the feasibility of implementing the wording of the Recommendation 6 of Durham DHR re Adults A-F (February 2013) and report back to the Hereford Community Safety Partnership within 3 months.
West Mercia and Warwickshire Police Firearms …
Colchester — recommendation 10
That it should be a prerequisite to the grant/renewal of a Firearms Licence that the applicant allow their GP to share relevant information to the holding of a Firearms Licence, with other agencies; which may otherwise fall within patient privilege.
Home Office
Home Office
Colchester — recommendation 4
That the Home Office approved Firearms Licensing - Medical Pilot Scheme, which strengthens the grant and renewal process by notifying GPs that a patient holds a firearms licence and requiring that record to be flagged , be rolled out for adoption nationally.
Home Office
Home Office
Colchester — recommendation 3
A patient's GP should be notified of any assessment of risk completed in the course of a memory clinic appointment; this will allow the GP to have a more complete picture in assessing any required disclosure to Police in respect of the continuing suitability to hold a Firearm.
North Essex Partnership NHS University Foundation …
North Essex Partnership University …
Colchester — recommendation 2
That the Home Office review and broaden the medical conditions within the Home Office Guidance on Firearms Licensing Law 2014 regarding psychiatric assessment, to specifically include consideration of Dementia.
Home Office
Home Office
Colchester — recommendation 1
That Essex Police inform GPs of current firearms licence holders as soon as possible, requesting them to flag patient records, and do not wait to the licence renewal date. This recommendation should be considered nationally.
Essex Police
Essex Police
Herefordshire — recommendation 1
West Mercia and Warwickshire Police Firearms Licencing Departments to consider the feasibility of implementing the wording of the Recommendation 6 of Durham DHR re Adults A-F (February 2013) and report back to the Hereford Community Safety Partnership within 3 months.
West Mercia and Warwickshire Police Firearms …
Waverley — recommendation 34.7
Surrey Police should explore the viability of applying a firearms marker on ICAD to the details (name, address and telephone numbers) of all new firearms licence holders and licence holders granted licence renewals as part of any software system upgrade at the earliest opportunity.
Surrey Police
Surrey Police
Waverley — recommendation 34.3
That the Home Office: consider revising their guidance on firearms licencing to require that certificated firearms or shotgun holders should be required to reapply for their certificate on reaching the age of 70 and that the renewal period should be reduced to three years and then annually from the …
The Home Office
Home Office
Epsom and Ewell — recommendation 4
The Home Office guidance Firearms Licensing: Statutory Guidance for Chief Officers of Police, February 2023, should be strengthened to explicitly require an assessment of the suitability of the location of where any weapons are to be held that goes beyond assessing the arrangements for the secure physical storage of any …
Home Office
Home Office
Epsom and Ewell — recommendation 3
The Home Office guidance Firearms Licensing: Statutory Guidance for Chief Officers of Police, February 2023, should be strengthened to allow licensing Police authorities the option, based on the particular circumstances of the applicant, the option to seek the views of other adult members of the applicant’s household about the licence …
Home Office
Home Office
Epsom and Ewell — recommendation 2
The Home Office guidance Firearms Licensing: Statutory Guidance for Chief Officers of Police, February 2023, should be strengthened to specifically ask applicants to declare the number of units of alcohol they consume per week (with accompanying guidance that assists the application – see, for example the NHS website: NHS Alcohol …
Home Office
Home Office
Epsom and Ewell — recommendation 1
The Home Office guidance Firearms Licensing: Statutory Guidance for Chief Officers of Police, February 2023, should be strengthened to include the need for applicants to declare the use of private GPs or medical consultants, and the use of on-line medication prescribing services. The strengthened guidance should then translate to Police …
Home Office
Home Office
South Norfolk — recommendation 17.4
Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Groups, alongside the police, to develop and implement a systematic process for GPs to flag patients who are at risk of misusing firearms in a way that presents a danger to themselves and/or others and to take appropriate action in advising that a firearms licence …
Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Groups …
Norfolk Constabulary
Durham — recommendation 10.2.12
Risk assessment of new firearms licence applications.
Durham Constabulary
Durham Constabulary
Durham — recommendation 10.2.7
On-going risk assessment- Ability to identify policing activity involving firearms certificate holders.
Durham Constabulary
Durham Constabulary
Durham — recommendation 10.2.6
CRU- Ensure risk based approach through effective use of police/partner agency information.
Durham Constabulary
Durham Constabulary
Durham — recommendation 10.2.2
Durham Constabulary to finalise a firearms review once the independent report is received from the IPCC.
Durham Constabulary
Durham Constabulary
Durham — recommendation 10.2.1
To undertake a full review of all firearms’ certificate holders to ascertain if any are perpetrators of domestic abuse or have been previously identified as such. This action is currently underway.
Durham Constabulary
Durham Constabulary
Durham — recommendation 6c
During the course of those discussions the police representative should also seek permission for a 'flag' to be placed upon the individuals medical record which identifies that if granted a licence it is clearly visible to those accessing the record.
Durham Constabulary
Durham Constabulary
Durham — recommendation 6b
Once a firearm or shotgun certificate has been awarded, the police firearms licencing department should notify the individual's GP so that they are proactive in their information sharing if they have concerns about the certificate holder and their appropriateness to continue to hold these certificates.
Durham Constabulary
Durham Constabulary
Durham — recommendation 6a
The police firearms licensing department explore the feasibility of carrying out checks both internally and externally, on the applicants relevant history with other agencies in particular primary health care i.e. GP's, to help them makes decisions in relation to the granting of either a shotgun or firearm license or a …
Durham Constabulary
Durham Constabulary
Durham — recommendation 5b
Before the decision to return any weapons is made, full recorded checks are undertaken both internally and externally, to determine the fitness of the licence holder to return the weapons and certificates to.
Durham Constabulary
Durham Constabulary
Durham — recommendation 5a
Although no illegally held weapon was used in this case; when an incident occurs which warrants the seizure of weapons from a licenced shotgun or firearms holder, all certificates are seized.
Durham Constabulary
Durham Constabulary
Durham — recommendation 3
The Safe Durham Partnership Board should review its existing information sharing protocol and ensure it is fit for purpose in relation to domestic abuse and firearms licencing. Consideration should be given to the inclusion of specific addendums that include what information is to be shared by whom and under what …
Safe Durham Partnership Board
Kent — recommendation 6.5
When an alleged perpetrator of domestic abuse is also the holder of a shotgun or firearms certificate, Kent Police should ensure that a risk assessment in relation to the possession of firearms by suspected perpetrators takes place, and, in such cases, consideration should be given to removal of any firearms …
Kent Police
Kent Police
Somerset — recommendation IMR_PrimaryCare_3
Given that his (Jeremy’s) mood was sufficiently low to warrant medication it would have been appropriate to inform the police in respect of his shotgun licence as per their guidance. The mention of “relationship difficulties” could have prompted a discussion about domestic abuse.
GP Practice
Somerset — recommendation IMR_PrimaryCare_2
It may be helpful to provide further guidance to GPs about what information to disclose to the police regarding shotgun licencing. Consideration should be given as to whether it is appropriate to delegate this work to GP registrars depending on their level of training in this area.
GP Practice
Somerset — recommendation IMR_Police_1
Avon and Somerset Police should review the standard operating procedure/procedural guidance for firearms seizure and make safe processes to ensure that each part of the process is clearly and fully documented on Niche and recorded with BWV.
Avon and Somerset Police
Avon and Somerset Police
Somerset — recommendation 3
The Safer Somerset Partnership, in conjunction with the Avon and Somerset Police and the Clinical Commissioning Group should liaise with NHS England/Improvement, the Department for Health and Social Care and the Royal College of GPs to consider what national guidance might be put in place to ensure a more consistent …
Safer Somerset Partnership | Avon and …
Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation …
Somerset — recommendation 2
Avon and Somerset Police should put in place a process to ensure that the NICHE system is used to record and flag individuals who have a firearms licence. The DHR panel notes that this is work in progress but recommend it is completed swiftly. Again the police should liaise with …
Avon and Somerset Police
Avon and Somerset Police
Somerset — recommendation 1
Avon and Somerset Police implement their own recommendation relating to the standard operating procedure for the firearms seizure. In so doing they should liaise with the appropriate policing and justice bodies nationally to ensure that the lessons learned from this review contribute to national practice.
Avon and Somerset Police
Avon and Somerset Police
Waverley — recommendation 4
The Safer Waverley Partnership endorses and supports the recommendation suggested in the draft guidance “Firearms Licensing Statutory Guidance For Chief Officers of Police”, and recommends that the circumstances of this review are shared with those within the Home Office responsible for the consultation, to assist in the continuance with those …
Safer Waverley Partnership | Home Office
Home Office
Norfolk — recommendation 11
The Community Safety Partnership should monitor the progress and impact of the protocol between the Safeguarding and Firearms Units introduced in mid 2013 concerning domestic abuse and checking firearms databases to ensure that it is able to be implemented effectively in practice. The Partnership may wish to be made aware …
Community Safety Partnership | Police
Police Services
Norfolk — recommendation 3
That there is a national review of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 Section 37 (26B) Applications for shot gun certificates, to include the criteria by which an individual is granted a shotgun certificate. Such criteria should include: (a) A definition of a ‘fit and proper person’ appropriate for being granted …
Government | ACPO
UK Government
Dudley — recommendation 2
Firearms Licensing The Panel invites ‘Safe and Sound (the Dudley Community Safety Partnership) to: • Seek assurance from the West Midlands Police that the DARA3 is applied for first responders and the use of DASH is promoted as a dynamic assessment, specific to the client, used for conducting secondary risk …
Safe and Sound (the Dudley Community …
Wiltshire — recommendation 1
NHS Wiltshire considered, how agencies involved should share information, for example if a person is charged with driving over the limit should a GP be informed? There could be a possible list of events in which a GP would be notified; this could include violent incidents, incidents with weapons or …
NHS Wiltshire
NHS Bath and North …
Wiltshire — recommendation 1
Work together to agree a protocol whereby information is shared with and from GPs about issues which relate to patients being a risk to themselves or others. This would include, sharing information relating to domestic abuse, drink driving, firearm applications/reviews, drug or alcohol abuse, and use of violence or weapons. …
Wiltshire Police | Wiltshire Council | …
Wiltshire Police
Norfolk — recommendation 14
The Police should ensure that all frontline Officers and the relevant support staff complete training in the DASH risk assessment, its use with victims and the evidence base behind the risk factors. Training should include ensuring that firearms are included when asking questions about weapons.
Police | NCCSP
Police Services