(The Minister of
State for Policing and the Fire
Service): Today, I am publishing a public
consultation on the introduction of statutory guidance to the
police on firearms licensing. The proposed guidance aims to ensure
that the highest standards of public safety are maintained in the
firearms licensing process, improving consistency between police
forces and in court when licensing decisions are appealed. It is
being introduced following a recommendation made by Her Majesty’s
Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services in
September 2015, which found that police forces were not always
following the Home Office firearms guidance, resulting in
inconsistent application of the law.
We have acted on this recommendation and the Policing and Crime
Act 2017 made provision for the Home Secretary to issue statutory
guidance to the police on their firearms licensing functions. The
police will have a duty to have regard to the guidance, which
will include existing safeguards relating to firearms ownership,
such as police background checks or the criteria around
applicants with a history of domestic violence.
The draft guidance in the consultation also contains new
proposals on the arrangements for assessing the medical
suitability of firearms applicants, following consideration of
how the system is currently operating, and concerns raised about
the variation in practice across the country. It is important
that the arrangements support doctors in providing the necessary
medical information to the police who have responsibility for
firearms licensing, and that the police are able to require sight
of the medical information before they proceed to grant the
firearm certificate. I am seeking views on these arrangements
from all those with an interest so that we can ensure the system
operates as effectively as possible. It is vitally important to
ensure that those in possession of firearms are medically fit, to
safeguard the public and the firearm certificate holder
themselves.
The consultation is seeking views from police forces, firearms
owners and other interested parties and the wider public on the
contents of the proposed statutory guidance. I am also consulting
the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Chief Constable of
Police Scotland, as required by the legislation. I will consider
very carefully the views which are put forward during the
consultation, which will last for a period of eight weeks,
following which the Home Office will publish the new statutory
guidance. I am committed to efficient and effective operation of
the firearms licensing system, and once the statutory guidance
has been in place for a suitable period, I intend to review the
operation of the new medical arrangements to ensure they are
working effectively.
