Statutory guidance for the police, published today, will
strengthen how they determine who is suitable to hold a firearm
or shotgun licence, better protecting the public and making
streets safe, under the Plan for Change.
From today, the government will increase the number of referees
required for shotgun certificate applications from 1 to 2, as
well as providing new advice to referees on their
responsibilities in supporting an application. This is in direct
response to concerns raised by the senior coroner who held the
inquests following the fatal shootings in Plymouth in August
2021. This will mean an additional person who has known the
applicant well for at least 2 years will need to vouch for them,
bringing shotgun referee checks in line with wider firearms and
making sure there is greater opportunity for any concerns about
an applicant to be raised or identified.
Today's changes will improve the information the police have
about an applicant's suitability to possess a gun.
The Home Office is also strengthening the guidance for how police
should consider suspected domestic abuse or other violence, when
someone is applying for a firearms licence. This includes making
clear the police must speak to partners and household members to
identify any signs of domestic abuse or any other factors which
could indicate the applicant is not suitable to have a firearms
licence.
The updated guidance will mean officers must carry out
additional checks before approving a licence to make sure those
who perpetrate such crimes or have a record of violence are not
permitted to access firearms.
Any evidence of dishonesty or concerns about a person's integrity
will also bring into question their suitability to hold a
gun. This could include lying on the application form or
withholding details about relevant health conditions.
Policing Minister, , said:
Only those who meet the highest standards of safety and
responsibility should be permitted to use shotguns or firearms,
and it is crucial that police have full information about the
suitability of all applicants for these lethal weapons.
The events in Woodmancote in 2020, Plymouth in 2021 and other
cases provide a tragic reminder of what can happen when these
weapons are in the hands of the wrong people, and we must do
everything we can to protect the public.
That is why, as part of our Plan for Change, we are giving the
police the tools and resources they need to make safe, timely and
consistent decisions when it comes to firearms licensing.
This is just one part of our mission to make our streets safer.
We will also launch a public consultation on the controls on
shotguns and other firearms issues later this year.
The stricter controls have been welcomed by Emma Ambler, a
campaigner who has called for stricter gun laws after her twin
sister Kelly Fitzgibbons, and her 2 nieces, Ava and Lexi Needham,
were tragically murdered in 2020 with a legally owned weapon.
Firearms campaigner Emma Ambler said:
I'm really pleased that the government is strengthening the
current firearms licensing guidance. Although there is still some
way to go, these changes are very welcome and it is pleasing to
finally feel listened to after 5 years of campaigning to make the
system safer.
I still believe that holding a gun licence is a privilege and not
a right. The priority has to be the safety of society and it's so
important to stop these extremely dangerous weapons falling into
the wrong hands, which these changes will go some way to doing.
I'm pleased there is going to be a further consultation and it's
really important that the general public respond to this, not
just gun owners, as unfortunately these tragedies can impact
anybody.
The strengthened statutory guidance is just part of the
government's work to ensure firearms laws fully protect the
public. In light of the weaknesses exposed by the tragic shooting
of Juliana Falcon and 2 of her children, Giselle and Kyle
Prosper, with a gun which was bought fraudulently by her son, the
government will be consulting later this year on measures to
strengthen the existing controls on shotguns, alongside seeking
views on measures to improve controls on the private sales of
firearms.
