Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of requiring each gun license in England to be reviewed once per annum.

Police forces are responsible for the issue of firearm and shotgun certificates and they undertake a number of checks before granting a certificate to ensure that the applicant is suitable and does not pose a risk to themselves or to others.

New Statutory Guidance for the police on their firearms licensing functions, which came into effect on 1 November 2021, has strengthened these arrangements. In particular, the Statutory Guidance ensures that that no one is granted a firearm or shotgun certificate unless their doctor has confirmed to the police whether or not they have any relevant medical conditions, including in relation to their mental health.

While firearm and shotgun certificates are valid for five years, the Statutory Guidance requires the police to maintain continuous assessment during the life of the certificate and the police have the power to revoke certificates and seize the holder’s shotguns or firearms if they assess that a risk to public safety has arisen during the life of the certificate.

We have no plans to require all firearms and shotguns to be stored at designated gun club premises. The police assess the safe storage of firearms and shotguns as part of the licensing process. The Statutory Guidance requires a home visit to be carried out before granting a certificate, which will include an inspection of arrangements for the secure storage of firearms and shotguns while not in use. In addition, as part of continuous assessment, the police are able to undertake an unannounced visit or inspection of the certificate holder’s premises where it is judged necessary to do so, based on specific intelligence relating to a particular threat, or in relation to the risk of harm.