Police cuts see fears over new gun licensing

Fewer staff available to monitor firearms owners

CONCERN has been raised over police cuts to specialist firearms licensing staff after it emerged that dozens of gun owners are seeing their legal right to hold weapons removed as they pose a danger to the public.

New figures show that between November 2014 and last month, 77 firearm or shotgun certificates were revoked due to the owner being considered of “intemperate habit, otherwise unfitted or unsound mind”, or because they were a “prohibited person” as they were believed to put public safety in peril.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats, who obtained the figures, raised concern that an average of more than one certificate was being withdrawn every week while heavy cuts to the number of civilian experts charged with overseeing the firearms licensing regime in Scotland were implemented.

The latest data show that there are more than 26,000 firearms certificates on issue north of the Border, in addition to almost 50,000 shotgun licences, with the holders possessing more than 160,000 weapons between then.

Alison McInness, the LibDems’ justice spokesman, said specialist civilian staff overseeing licensing had been cut from 34 to 14, working alongside 350 part-time police officers to monitor tens of thousands of gun owners.

The new regime has been introduced despite MSPs backing new laws last summer that will see the introduction of licensing for air weapons, in a move that it is feared will increase the burden on staff.

The changes were proposed after the death of Glasgow toddler Andrew Morton, who was shot dead by an airgun in 2005.

Ms McInness said: “A gun can be incredibly dangerous in the wrong hands and there are people out there who should not be licensed to own one.

“But officers and staff involved in assessing whether or not an applicant should be given a licence or have their existing one renewed face a mammoth task.

“In November last year there were 75,000 firearm certificates on issue in Scotland for a total of over 162,000 firearms and shotguns.

“The number of gun owners staff will have to monitor will rise when new legislation comes in force requiring hundreds of thousands of air weapons to be licensed too.

“The restructuring of Police Scotland’s national firearms licensing unit has led to a halving of the number of permanent civilian experts responsible for the licensing of firearms and explosives. The new regime must allow for the suitability of both new applicants and those who already hold gun licences to be properly interrogated.

“The national force and Scottish Police Authority must ensure staff and officers involved in granting and revoking licences have the resources they need to carry out their roles properly to reassure the public that controls around the possession of firearms are effective.”

Police Scotland confirmed that new firearms licensing structures are now fully operational and said public safety remains its priority.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams said: “These new structures are fully supported by extensive training and a new administration process.

“We now deploy a mix of police officers and police staff to manage inquiries and this has led to a far more flexible and effective service that is fit for purpose now and in the future.”

The Scottish Government said ministers had been assured that public safety is a fundamental part of Police Scotland’s considerations when restructuring its gun licensing regime.

A spokesman said: “Staff resourcing is a matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Policy Authority.

“Decisions on whether to grant, renew, revoke or refuse firearms and shotgun certificates are a matter for the Chief Constable.”

‘‘ A gun can be incredibly dangerous and there are people out there who should not be licensed to own one