Firearms Licensing Consultation

Written By Fraser Lamb

On Thursday, 29 June 2023, the UK Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire, Chris Philp, MP, published the UK Government’s response to the Keyham tragedy, the subsequent IOPC report and the considerations of the Scottish Affairs Committee in respect of firearms licensing.

The links for both can be found here;

Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

Firearms licensing: recommendations for changes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Home Office also launched an eight-week consultation in respect of firearms licensing recommendations.

We at SACS will circulate our draft response in due course to members for their consideration.  In the meantime, I would urge you to read the statement made by the Minister and the consultation carefully.  It is the actuality, free from speculation and ill-informed comment and it is what we will be responding to.

This is important and will likely impact upon how the processes of applying for a firearm or shotgun certificates will be conducted in the future.

Should you of course have your own views, please respond to the consultation independently however it may be best to wait for the draft SACS response which may inform your thinking and subsequent representations.

We will keep you updated.

Fraser Lamb

Fraser Lamb is on the SACS Management Committee. After retiring from the police in 2017, with his last four years being head of firearms licensing in Scotland, he now helps SACS members on licensing matters.

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