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 3 independent accountability sources, so the source mix matters as much as the headline total.
28 inquiry recs
17 PFD reports
98 committee 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: The government published "Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First" (Cm 8777) on 19 November 2013, responding to all 290 recommendations of the Francis Report. This followed an initial response "Patients First and Foremost" …
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: The government published "Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First" (Cm 8777) on 19 November 2013, responding to all 290 recommendations of the Francis Report. This followed an initial response "Patients First and Foremost" …
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: The government published "Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First" (Cm 8777) on 19 November 2013, responding to all 290 recommendations of the Francis Report. This followed an initial response "Patients First and Foremost" …
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: During post incident proceedings following a police shooting, NPCC should consider the advantages of: Recordings of the communications of firearms commanders and authorised firearms officers (AFOs); And video recordings from the body-worn video cameras of AFOs and police vehicles involved …
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 firearms certificate revocation process was inadequate, lacking a face-to-face meeting and personal service of the revocation letter, which contributed to the deceased retaining access to weapons.
Response (Durham Constabulary): Durham Constabulary now includes face-to-face meetings with certificate holders as part of the structured review process when it would add value, and is rationalising and indexing the 8,500 live certificate …
Responded
William Dowling & Victoria Rose
Concerns: There's no national system allowing doctors to proactively share concerns about a patient's ongoing suitability for a firearms license, with patient confidentiality potentially overriding public safety.
Overdue
Jason Palmer
Concerns: A breakdown in information sharing between police units meant domestic incident details were not available to the Firearms Unit, impacting suitability assessment for a shotgun licence renewal.
Response (Devon Cornwall Police): The police force has introduced an electronic system which sweeps all police incident logs every ten minutes and sends an immediate alert to the Firearms Licensing Unit if any log …
Responded
Harold Ambrose
Concerns: There is no requirement for GPs or Mental Health Trusts to notify police about mental health concerns for firearm licence holders, and licence information was not properly flagged in medical records.
Overdue
Alice Gross
Concerns: UK police lack mandatory foreign conviction checks for all arrestees and UK nationals. There are concerns about inadequate international data sharing, "watch list" management, and potential loss of Europol access post-Brexit.
Response (Home Office): The Home Office details steps taken to improve checks for foreign convictions on arrest, including implementation of the European Criminal Record Information System (ECRIS) and increased use of Interpol I-24/7, …
Responded
Richard Davies
Concerns: A police armed policing unit used unbonded ammunition which did not align with national recommendations and lacked a clear bullet mass retention specification.
Response (Bedfordshire Police): The BCH APU is no longer using the un-bonded 5.56mm ammunition which was used in the present case and has amended its system of record-keeping to ensure that all decisions …
Overdue
John Hill
Concerns: Firearms licensing checks failed to include crucial enquiries with family members, missing vital information about the applicant's suicidal intentions before a certificate was granted.
Response: The Home Office will encourage "professional curiosity" through new accreditation standards for Firearms Enquiry Officers being developed by the College of Policing. They intend to consult on draft statutory guidance …
Response (Durham Constabulary): Durham Constabulary outlines that the Home Office is preparing to go to public consultation on their guidance to forces on issuing firearms certificates later this year, and they will endeavour …
Response (CFOA): CFOA has disseminated information about the dangers posed by emollient creams to all fire and rescue services through internal communications channels, and will promote safety warnings relating to these creams …
Responded
Christine Lee
Concerns: The absence of mandatory national training for Firearms Enquiry Officers risks incorrect certification decisions. Additionally, the medical assessment system for shotgun certificates is flawed, with officers lacking skills to evaluate complex health conditions.
Overdue
Emiel Malinski
Concerns: Miniature rifle ranges operate with minimal regulation, lacking essential safety measures such as secure weapon tethering, competent supervision, ammunition control, and first aid provisions.
Response (Home Office): The Home Office is reviewing the firearms licensing exemption for miniature rifle ranges, prompted by the incident. They conducted a public consultation on tightening controls and will consider the responses …
Responded
Keith Weston
Concerns: Non-police prosecuting authorities, such as HMRC, lack automatic checks to flag individuals holding firearms licenses, preventing assessment of their suitability to possess weapons when facing prosecution.
Overdue
Nicholas Dumphreys
Concerns: Safety-critical vehicle information may not reach all police forces due to informal communication channels. There's also no policy to prevent faulty decommissioned police vehicles from being sold, and a lack of national garage standards risks inadequate maintenance.
Response (National Police Chiefs Council): The NPCC has reorganised its fleet structure and is establishing a new NPCC-led governance and delivery structure to oversee police fleet issues. They will also reissue disposal advice under NPCC …
Responded
Michael Roberts
Concerns: An inaccurate DBS certificate failed to disclose a violent conviction, enabling an individual to be employed with access to firearms. The source of this critical error is currently unclear.
Overdue
Maxine Davison, Lee Martyn, Sophie Martyn, Stephen Washington and Kate Shepherd
Concerns: Concerns were raised regarding the risks associated with the legal availability, lethality, ease of use, and rapid fire capabilities of certain items, and their role in crime.
Response (North Wales Police): North Wales Police will review cases over the last 5 years where applications have been refused or licenses revoked, but where subsequent applications or appeals resulted in a grant, aiming …
Response (Merseyside Police): Merseyside Police firearms enquiry officers have completed the South Yorkshire Police training package and are enrolled on Mowbray Partners online training. They will also review cases within one month where …
Response (Dorset Police): Dorset Police will provide additional training to further enhance the quality of FEO investigations through the national Professionalising Investigations Programme at level 1 over the next 18 months. A presentation …
Response (Avon and Somerset Police): Avon and Somerset Police completed a review and found no cases where approval should not have been granted. They are reviewing their training requirements and will be implementing additional mandatory …
Response (South Wales Police): South Wales Police is reviewing approximately 1300 records where certificate holders were subject to a suitability review to determine if certificates were seized, surrendered, revoked or refused and subsequently approved. …
Response (North Yorkshire Police): North Yorkshire Police has established a Gold group to oversee their response and commenced a review of records relating to certificates seized, refused, revoked, or surrendered and then subsequently approved …
Response (Lancashire Constabulary): Lancashire Constabulary has commenced a review of all certificates refused, revoked, seized or surrendered and then subsequently approved over the past 5 years, against the March 2023 Home Office Statutory …
Response (Greater Manchester Police): Greater Manchester Police will review between 70-80 cases at Senior Officer Panel, for the five-year period, where certificates have been seized, refused, revoked or surrendered and then subsequently approved and …
Response (College of Policing): The College of Policing is developing significantly revised and updated Authorised Professional Practice (APP) on firearms licensing. This will underpin the development of a national training course for staff involved …
Response (Surrey Police): Surrey Police will review firearms and shotgun licensing prioritizing cases where firearms have been seized or surrendered and then returned; it will review most recent decisions first and applications that …
Response (Gloucestershire Constabulary): Gloucestershire Constabulary will conduct a review of firearms licensing decisions, as per the letter from the NPCC lead, with a target completion date of 2 October 2023.
Response (Essex Police): Essex Police is reviewing decisions to return firearms licenses over a five-year period, prioritizing cases where firearms were seized or surrendered and then returned. They have implemented local training for …
Response (Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police): Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police have instructed a review of firearms seized and returned, certificate holders refused or revoked then successfully reapplied, and holders subject to police intelligence reports over …
Response (Sussex Police): Sussex Police's Firearms and Explosives Licencing Unit believes its process for the return of a certificate is suitably stringent and is catered for within a force policy; the team is …
Response (Kent Police): Kent Police will review 134 firearms licensing cases where certificates were returned after seizure/surrender, or granted after refusal/revocation, assessing them against the current Home Office Statutory Guidance. Local firearms licensing …
Response (West Mercia Police): West Mercia Police will review firearms licensing decisions related to returns, refusals, revocations, and surrenders over the past five years, aiming to complete the review by the end of October. …
Response (West Midlands Police): Staffordshire Police and West Midlands Police (collaborated service) provided tables that outline certificates seized and returned, revoked, and refused. They have a series of scheduled quality assurance programmes in relation …
Response (Nottinghamshire Police): Nottinghamshire Police has identified a dedicated resource to review firearms licensing cases where firearms were seized/surrendered and later returned, or where licenses were refused/revoked and later granted. A sample of …
Response (Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales): The Lord Chief Justice acknowledges the concerns but states that the report does not substantiate the suggestion that judges are not giving appeals the necessary careful and detailed consideration, are …
Response (City of London Police): City of London Police acknowledge the findings and learnings from the Keyham Inquest and will review their SOP to ensure procedures for Application / Annual Renewal / Return meet or …
Response (Durham Constabulary): Durham Constabulary details their history of firearms licensing reform following a 2013 report and states that they are satisfied that their review of decisions to return firearms to licence holders …
Response (Devon and Cornwall Police): Devon and Cornwall Police invested £3 million into the force's Firearms and Explosives Licensing Unit (FELU). In 2023, training is planned, including integrating firearms licensing into practical scenarios for Personal …
Response (Metropolitan Police Service): The Metropolitan Police expresses condolences and describes existing processes for reviewing firearms licensing decisions, including reviews conducted in August 2021, and states they are contributing to national discussions on firearms …
Response (Leicestershire Police): Leicestershire Police will review cases from April 2023 for the past 5 years where certificates were seized, refused, revoked or surrendered and then subsequently approved, prioritizing cases where firearms were …
Response (Staffordshire Police): Staffordshire Police (and West Midlands Police, as part of a collaborated service) detail existing training for staff, including the National Triage Firearms Classification Course and Police National Decision Model training. …
Response (Home Office): The Home Office is allocating £500,000 to the College of Policing to develop accredited training for firearms licensing staff. They will consult on mandating this training and are working to …
Response (Thames Valley Police): Thames Valley Police will review seized and returned guns over a 5-year period, grants that have been revoked/refused/surrendered, and applications refused/revoked but subsequently granted via appeal. The aim is to …
Response (Devon and Cornwall Police): Devon and Cornwall Police completed a review of 611 license holders identified as meeting the criteria of having certificates seized, refused, revoked or surrendered and then subsequently approved between May …
Response (Northamptonshire Police): Northamptonshire Police will prioritise reviewing cases where firearms have been seized/surrendered and then returned, and cases where applications were refused/licenses revoked but later granted, completing this by 2nd October 2023. …
Response (Warwickshire Police): Warwickshire Police states that they have already responded to the Home Secretary's request in 2021 regarding license applications that were refused or revoked but subsequently granted. The force will direct …
Response (Dyfed Powys Police): Dyfed Powys Police will undertake a further review of decision files where firearms have been seized following any incident and subsequently returned to the holder. They welcome and support the …
Response (Derbyshire Police): Derbyshire Police has implemented IT system improvements for recording and sharing information, ensuring automatic notifications to the firearms licensing team for incidents involving license holders. They are developing a digital …
Response (Suffolk Constabulary): Suffolk Constabulary will review cases relating to certificates issued between April 2019 and August 2020. For other periods, they will dip-sample cases, with a wider review if concerns are identified, …
Response (Norfolk Constabulary): Norfolk Constabulary will commission external training for Firearms Licensing Unit staff starting in May 2023. They will also conduct a review of certificates seized, refused, revoked, or surrendered and then …
Responded
Emma, Ellette and George Pattison
Concerns: The process for obtaining shotgun certificates is flawed, as online doctors enable applicants to hide relevant medical history. Licensing authorities also lack methods to fully uncover coercive controlling behaviour.
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): DHSC describes the rollout of a system by May 2023 to alert GPs when a patient with a shotgun certificate experiences a relevant medical condition, enabling them to flag it …
Response (National Police Chiefs' Council): National FEO training will encourage positive engagement with the applicant and their family to ascertain their “domestic health and wellbeing”, and revised guidance may require interviews and engagement with families; …
Response (Surrey Police): Surrey Police has revised its practice so FEOs now ask about the use of other medical services during visits to elicit information from applicants, and notes a national initiative to …
Response (GPC): The GPC will update its guidance to GPs to highlight the potential information gap in firearms licensing if external prescribers don't share relevant information or patients withhold it.
Response (The Home Office): The Home Office plans to issue a refreshed version of the Statutory Guidance early in 2025, which will include additional guidance for the police to help ensure that perpetrators of …
Responded
Jairus Earl
Concerns: Significant gaps in shotgun licence regulation, including no requirement to declare multiple properties or movement, and less stringent application criteria compared to firearms, create a risk of future deaths.
Response (National Police Chiefs Council): The NPCC highlights the importance of personal responsibility on license holders for the security of firearms. The NPCC commenced delivery of an additional two-day course for Firearms Licensing Enquiry Officers …
Response (Home Office): The Home Office alerted all police forces to the issue of information sharing regarding shotgun license holders, and it is possible for police to check if an individual is a …
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): The Department will explore broadening access to relevant medical information of others residing at licence-holders' addresses and engage with GP representatives. They will work with them to ensure that operational …
Responded
Richard Haddock
Concerns: Police processes failed to notify the Firearms Licensing Department of a prosecution, and the department did not check PNC records, leading to a shotgun being returned to a prohibited individual.
Response (Devon Cornwall Police): Devon & Cornwall Police have improved processes within the Firearms Enquiry Licensing Unit (FELU) to ensure PNC checks are undertaken during suitability reviews and prior to the return of firearms. …
Responded
Samuel Dickinson
Concerns: Gaps in firearms legislation mean licence holders are not required to self-report medical conditions, and GPs are not obligated to record licences or report relevant issues to police.
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): • The Department of Health and Social Care has collaborated with the Home Office and the British Medical Association to ensure controls for applicant medical suitability. • Applicants are required …
Response (Home Office): • A new Statutory Instrument will add a new condition to firearms and shotgun licences to require the holder to inform the police if they begin to suffer from a …
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 …
Gov response: The UK Government has noted the Committee’s recommendation around creating a new reporting service where members of the public can register concerns about certificate holders. We are seeking views on this in the accompanying consultation …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: You will see that we are seeking views in the accompanying consultation paper on the recommendations made in respect of interviewing partners and household members of those certificate holders or applicants with a record of …
Partially Accepted
#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 …
Gov response: You will see that we are seeking views in the accompanying consultation paper on the recommendations made in respect of interviewing partners and household members of those certificate holders or applicants with a record of …
Partially Accepted
#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 …
Gov response: 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 …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: 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 …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: 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 …
Under Consideration
#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’ …
Gov response: 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 …
Partially Accepted
#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 …
Gov response: 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 …
Partially Accepted
#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 …
Gov response: 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 …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: 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 …
Partially Accepted
#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 …
Gov response: 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 …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: 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 …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: The Committee recommended changes to legislation to align the requirements for shotguns and firearms. Public safety is our priority, but the measures to manage the risk to public safety must be proportionate and balanced with …
Not Accepted
#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 …
Gov response: With regard to the Committee’s recommendations around the review of referees in the firearms licensing process, it is worth noting that similar issues were raised by both the IOPC and in the Prevention of Future …
Under Consideration
#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.
Gov response: The UK Government has noted the Committee’s recommendation around creating a new reporting service where members of the public can register concerns about certificate holders. We are seeking views on this in the accompanying consultation …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: With regard to the Committee’s recommendations around the review of referees in the firearms licensing process, it is worth noting that similar issues were raised by both the IOPC and in the Prevention of Future …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: With regard to the Committee’s recommendations around the review of referees in the firearms licensing process, it is worth noting that similar issues were raised by both the IOPC and in the Prevention of Future …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: You will see that we are seeking views in the accompanying consultation paper on the recommendations made in respect of interviewing partners and household members of those certificate holders or applicants with a record of …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: The UK Government has looked at the recommendations from the Committee alongside Prevention of Future Deaths reports issued by the Senior Coroner for Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon on 8 March 2023, following the inquest …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: The UK Government has looked at the recommendations from the Committee alongside Prevention of Future Deaths reports issued by the Senior Coroner for Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon on 8 March 2023, following the inquest …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: The UK Government has noted the Committee’s recommendation in relation to advertising avenues to mental health support for the shooting community and also the points made about the particular challenges faced by rural communities traumatised …
Accepted
#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 …
Gov response: 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 …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: The UK Government has noted the Committee’s recommendation that the current renewal period of five years remain in place but that it should be kept under review. As you will see, we are seeking views …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: The UK Government has noted the Committee’s recommendation that the current renewal period of five years remain in place but that it should be kept under review. As you will see, we are seeking views …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: With regard to the Committee’s recommendations around the review of referees in the firearms licensing process, it is worth noting that similar issues were raised by both the IOPC and in the Prevention of Future …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: With regard to the Committee’s recommendations around the review of referees in the firearms licensing process, it is worth noting that similar issues were raised by both the IOPC and in the Prevention of Future …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: With regard to the Committee’s recommendations around the review of referees in the firearms licensing process, it is worth noting that similar issues were raised by both the IOPC and in the Prevention of Future …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: The Committee recommended a consultation on the introduction of a two-tier system of licensing fees, with those who use firearms for leisure purposes paying the full cost of their licence applications, and those who require …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: The UK Government is consulting on the recommendation made by the Committee in relation to ‘buddy’ initiatives. The Home Office has already been working with representatives of the police and shooting representative bodies to bring …
Partially Accepted
#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 …
Gov response: The UK Government is consulting on the recommendation made by the Committee in relation to ‘buddy’ initiatives. The Home Office has already been working with representatives of the police and shooting representative bodies to bring …
Partially Accepted
#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 …
Gov response: The UK Government is consulting on the recommendation made by the Committee in relation to ‘buddy’ initiatives. The Home Office has already been working with representatives of the police and shooting representative bodies to bring …
Partially Accepted
#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 …
Gov response: The UK Government is consulting on the recommendation made by the Committee in relation to ‘buddy’ initiatives. The Home Office has already been working with representatives of the police and shooting representative bodies to bring …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: The UK Government is consulting on the recommendation made by the Committee in relation to ‘buddy’ initiatives. The Home Office has already been working with representatives of the police and shooting representative bodies to bring …
Partially Accepted
#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 …
Gov response: 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 …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: 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 …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: 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 …
Under Consideration
#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.
Gov response: 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 …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: 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 …
Accepted
#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 …
Gov response: The Committee recommended changes to legislation to align the requirements for shotguns and firearms. Public safety is our priority, but the measures to manage the risk to public safety must be proportionate and balanced with …
Not Accepted
#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 …
Gov response: The Committee recommended changes to legislation to align the requirements for shotguns and firearms. Public safety is our priority, but the measures to manage the risk to public safety must be proportionate and balanced with …
Not Accepted
#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 …
Gov response: The Committee recommended changes to legislation to align the requirements for shotguns and firearms. Public safety is our priority, but the measures to manage the risk to public safety must be proportionate and balanced with …
Not Accepted
#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 …
Gov response: The Committee recommended changes to legislation to align the requirements for shotguns and firearms. Public safety is our priority, but the measures to manage the risk to public safety must be proportionate and balanced with …
Not Accepted
#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 …
Gov response: The Committee recommended changes to legislation to align the requirements for shotguns and firearms. Public safety is our priority, but the measures to manage the risk to public safety must be proportionate and balanced with …
Not Accepted
#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 …
Gov response: The Committee recommended changes to legislation to align the requirements for shotguns and firearms. Public safety is our priority, but the measures to manage the risk to public safety must be proportionate and balanced with …
Not Accepted
#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 …
Gov response: The UK Government has noted the Committee’s recommendation that the current renewal period of five years remain in place but that it should be kept under review. As you will see, we are seeking views …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: The UK Government has noted the Committee’s recommendation that the current renewal period of five years remain in place but that it should be kept under review. As you will see, we are seeking views …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: The UK Government has noted the Committee’s recommendation that the current renewal period of five years remain in place but that it should be kept under review. As you will see, we are seeking views …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: The UK Government has noted the Committee’s recommendation that the current renewal period of five years remain in place but that it should be kept under review. As you will see, we are seeking views …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: The UK Government has noted the Committee’s recommendation that the current renewal period of five years remain in place but that it should be kept under review. As you will see, we are seeking views …
Under Consideration
#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 …
Gov response: The UK Government has noted the Committee’s recommendation that the current renewal period of five years remain in place but that it should be kept under review. As you will see, we are seeking views …
Under Consideration