The Government legislated, through the Policing and Crime Act 2017, to enable the Home Secretary to issue guidance to the police on their firearms licensing functions under the Firearms Act 1968. The introduction of statutory guidance is designed to improve consistency across the UK in police firearms licensing. The police will be under a duty to have regard to the guidance when it is issued.
A key element of the guidance is the assessment of the suitability of certificate holders, including their ongoing suitability after a certificate is granted. This includes their medical suitability.
The draft guidance sets out the checks that should be made, the weight to be given to the evidence and the factors that need to be taken into account.
The Government committed to a public consultation on a draft of the guidance before it is issued.
The consultation started on 23rd July and will remain open for eight weeks, finishing on 17 September 2019.
The consultation document can be access through the link below: