DUNB-4 Response Historic AI-assessed

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 to include in such cases the power to seize and detain any firearm certificate which may be found (para 8.15).

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
No specific published evidence has been identified in the provided sources regarding the extension of the power of search with warrant under section 46 of the Firearms Act 1968 to cases of substantial public safety risk, or the power to seize firearm certificates. The legislation.gov.uk search for 'Dunblane Inquiry' returned no results, and no further published evidence has been identified since the inquiry's report.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 19 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.gov.scot, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
Jurisdiction
UK-wide
Response
Historic

No government response recorded.

Source
Report Dunblane Inquiry — Final Report 16 Oct 1996
Recommendation age 29.4 yrs
Last formal update No formal updates