In September 2015 HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) published its report into the efficiency and effectiveness of the firearms licensing system. It had the infelicitous title “Targeting the Risk” which rather suggests that legitimate firearms owners are a problem – we aren’t. Moreover it later goes on to talk about its recommendations “all of which are designed to protect the…
Shotgun certificate and firearm certificate
Can a shooter with one eye shoot legally?
A: No, they cannot. The police may not attach an “accompanied” condition to a shotgun certificate in the way that they may add a condition to a firearm certificate. If you are a certificate holder, then you may continue to shoot unaccompanied as you have done in the past. Were the police to believe that, because of…
What do the changes to the Firearm and Shotgun Certificate application process mean?
The new process, which came into force on April 1, means GPs must now place an ‘encoded marker’ on the medical records of Firearm and Shotgun Certificate holders. This will act as a reminder to the GP that the person in question uses guns. The idea behind the marker is to enable the GP to consider informing the police…
British Medical Association makes U-turn on licence fees
The British Medical Association (BMA) has advised GPs not to provide shooters’ medical information to the police without a fee and suggested that it is acceptable to withhold the service on ethical grounds. The new encoded reminder system was introduced in April. It requires GPs to provide the police with any information suggesting an applicant should not be in…
Knee-jerk legislation dropped from EU Firearms Directive
A revised set of amendments to the EU Firearms Directive has been drafted, removing some of those proposals that had been criticised as unnecessary restrictions on lawful gun owners. Following the terrorist attacks in Paris last year, the European Commission brought forward plans to tighten gun laws, including a ban on semi-automatic .22 rimfires and new age limitations, despite a…
BASC: The case for ten year shotgun and firearms certificates
The renewal process can be one of the most frustrating times in a certificate holder’s life. All too often we hear of delays, temporary permits being issued, guns having to be lodged and – even worse – people being left in illegal possession of firearms. That is one reason BASC, in September last year, published a White Paper calling…
Shooting is growing in popularity according to new Home Office figures
The latest figures from the Home Office show how increasingly popular shooting is becoming across all ages and genders. For the first time the Home Office has broken down the figures to give greater insight into the people who hold shotgun and firearms certificates by indicating age and gender. There…
Essex Police to cut licensing backlog
The changes come as a meeting was held this week, chaired by Essex Deputy Chief Constable Matt Horne and attended by BASC, the National Farmers’ Union and the Countryside Alliance, to discuss a rise in complaints about the force’s performance. Gary Ashton, BASC’s director of firearms operations, said: “The delays experienced…
Quality of licensing service is a “postcode lottery”, says CA
The Countryside Alliance (CA) has said the quality of service a legal gun owner is likely to receive is a “real postcode lottery”. Following a Freedom of information (FOI) request, the CA said it found “staggering regional disparities” to the number of Section 7 permits issued over the past five years. Section…
The term “occupier” on a shotgun licence needs to be clarified
Have you ever taken a family member or friend, who no shotgun licence, on a day’s shooting on land that you do not own? If so, and you allow them to have a go, you could be breaking the law. This illogicality on the borrowing of shotguns is why the…
Shooting groups welcome tagging of medical records
A new “encoded reminder” system will make it easier for GPs to inform the police if they believe a firearms or shotgun certificate holder should not be in possession of a gun, following a change in legislation this month. As of 1 April, the application and renewal forms for firearms…
Poor police force firearms licensing service revealed
“We found examples of good practice, but these were the exception.” This is from the conclusions drawn by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) in its September 2015 report on firearms licensing. You may be lucky to live in an area where good practice is the norm, but it is more…
New medical monitoring for firearms and shotgun licence holders
The new system, led by the Home Office, will make it much more straightforward for GPs to alert police licensing departments if a medical condition is going to affect the certificate holder’s suitability to possess firearms. The condition can also be flagged up during the period the certificate is valid.…
Conditions on firearms certificates
I’m the one with the sharpened pencil who gets called in when victims of the licensing system can’t get any sense out of their local lot. That should not happen, but I’m afraid that all too often it does, despite agreed conditions, despite circulars from the Firearms and Explosives Licensing Working…
BASC blasts Kent firearms boss
Police firearms licensing departments have faced renewed criticism, five months after Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary report was released. Kent Police, in particular, has come under severe criticism from BASC, which said that Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Barnes did not understand the role the police play in firearms licensing…
Meet Richard Daws, our AYA Centenary shotgun winner
“Disbelieving elation is the only way I can describe how I felt when I was told that I was the lucky winner! Collecting the gun was fantastic if a little surreal for someone who had never previously won anything."
Shotgun certificates – 10 frequently asked questions
1. How long will it take me to get my shotgun certificate through? This is probably the question we’re most frequently asked. A lot depends on where you live – read on for the full story … 2. How can I apply for my shotgun certificate? A…
Firearms law: the way forward
From the firearms point of view, 2015 was a busy year. The report of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary into firearms licensing was released in September. To nobody’s surprise, it revealed serious shortcomings in the way the police manage the licensing process. Its publication coincided with a symposium held by the Law…
Law Commission recommends ‘overhaul’ of firearms law
The Law Commission report, published today, aims to make recommendations to solve the problems that undermine the effectiveness of the law governing the acquisition and possession of firearms. The existing law is ‘confused, unclear and difficult to apply’, according to the Law Commission, who review laws and recommend reforms. Currently…
Gun Licences: The future
Chief Constable Andy Marsh has been at the centre of several major news stories in recent weeks. He called for Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) report, which highlighted failings in the application of firearms licensing in England and Wales. He has also given his backing to the Law Commission’s plans to bring the current law on firearms, which is contained…