Firearms licence information sharing
46 items
2 sources
Failure of police to notify Firearms Licensing Departments of relevant prosecutions and neglect by licensing departments to check PNC records.
Cross-Source Insight
Firearms licence information sharing has been flagged across 2 independent accountability sources:
30 inquiry recs
16 PFD reports
This issue has been identified by multiple independent accountability bodies, suggesting it is a recurring systemic concern.
Inquiry Recommendations (30)
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
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-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-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-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-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-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-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-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-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-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-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-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-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-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-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-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-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-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
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-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-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-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-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
25 — Amendment of Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Recommendation: The Chair and Panel recommend that the Home Office ensures that the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 is amended so that, where a fitness to practise hearing has been conducted by the keeper of a relevant register and has resulted …
Gov response: The DBS is in the process of establishing single points of contact at a strategic level with all Keepers of Registers and Supervisory Authorities. By the end of August, the DBS will have had meetings …
Not Accepted
62 — Schools notify inspectorate of DBS referrals
Recommendation: The Department for Education and the Welsh Government should: require schools to inform the relevant inspectorate when they have referred a member of staff to the Disclosure and Barring Service, the Teaching Regulation Agency or the Education Workforce Council; and …
Gov response: On 30 June 2022, the UK government stated that it was cautious about creating a reporting mechanism that only related to the Disclosure and Barring Service and Teaching Regulation Agency when its position in Keeping …
Accepted in Part
No update 2+ yrs
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
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
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
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
No update 2+ yrs
PFD Reports (16)
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.
Pending
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's Firearms and Explosives Licensing Unit (FELU) now undertakes PNC checks as part of initial suitability reviews and immediately prior to returning firearms. Additional checks with other …
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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 states that face-to-face meetings will now be undertaken when they add value to firearms license reviews. They are also addressing weaknesses in record keeping by converting all certificate …
Responded