Found: Policing and Fire at the Home Office on the Home Office’s consultation on recommendations for changes to firearms

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the conclusions of the Senior Coroner for Surrey’s Prevention of Future Deaths report following the murder of Emma and Ellette Pattison, published on 12 August 2024, whether she plans to take steps with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to ensure licensing authorities are made aware of online GP consultations as a further safeguard.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Secretary, alongside others, has received a Prevention of Future Deaths report from the Senior Coroner for Surrey regarding the deaths at Epsom College in February 2023. The Government will be responding to the Coroner’s recommendations in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the conclusions of the Senior Coroner for Surrey’s Prevention of Future Deaths report following the murder of Emma and Ellette Pattison, published on 12 August 2024, whether she plans to review how licensing authorities could obtain details about an applicant’s history of coercive controlling behaviour.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Secretary, alongside others, has received a Prevention of Future Deaths report from the Senior Coroner for Surrey regarding the deaths at Epsom College in February 2023. The Government will be responding to the Coroner’s recommendations in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the potential introduction of a medical marker on GP records for people in possession of a gun certificate.

Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons

The Government received a wide range of views in response to last year’s consultation on firearms licensing. We are carefully considering all the comments received before publishing our response, which will set out what action we intend to take to further strengthen the controls on firearms. I cannot give an exact timescale for publication but I expect this to be shortly.

The Home Office worked with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England to introduce a digital firearms marker, which is placed on GP patient records. The digital marker enables the doctor to advise police if a firearm certificate holder begins to experience a medical condition which could affect their suitability to possess firearms, so that the police can review whether the person remains suitable. The digital marker has been rolled-out to GP practices since May 2023 and the Home Office is working with the DHSC and NHS England to obtain monitoring data about operation of the marker across the country.

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services currently plans to carry out a thematic inspection of police firearms licensing arrangements in its 2024-25 inspection programme. The Home Office will assist the Inspectorate with any guidance or information it requires ahead of the inspection.

Work is underway with the police on a programme of work to improve reliability of the National Firearms Licensing Management System, including establishing links with the Police National Database.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance his Department has provided to His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services on the performance of firearms licensing divisions within police forces.

Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons

The Government received a wide range of views in response to last year’s consultation on firearms licensing. We are carefully considering all the comments received before publishing our response, which will set out what action we intend to take to further strengthen the controls on firearms. I cannot give an exact timescale for publication but I expect this to be shortly.

The Home Office worked with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England to introduce a digital firearms marker, which is placed on GP patient records. The digital marker enables the doctor to advise police if a firearm certificate holder begins to experience a medical condition which could affect their suitability to possess firearms, so that the police can review whether the person remains suitable. The digital marker has been rolled-out to GP practices since May 2023 and the Home Office is working with the DHSC and NHS England to obtain monitoring data about operation of the marker across the country.

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services currently plans to carry out a thematic inspection of police firearms licensing arrangements in its 2024-25 inspection programme. The Home Office will assist the Inspectorate with any guidance or information it requires ahead of the inspection.

Work is underway with the police on a programme of work to improve reliability of the National Firearms Licensing Management System, including establishing links with the Police National Database.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of upgrading the National Firearms Licensing Management System database.

Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons

The Government received a wide range of views in response to last year’s consultation on firearms licensing. We are carefully considering all the comments received before publishing our response, which will set out what action we intend to take to further strengthen the controls on firearms. I cannot give an exact timescale for publication but I expect this to be shortly.

The Home Office worked with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England to introduce a digital firearms marker, which is placed on GP patient records. The digital marker enables the doctor to advise police if a firearm certificate holder begins to experience a medical condition which could affect their suitability to possess firearms, so that the police can review whether the person remains suitable. The digital marker has been rolled-out to GP practices since May 2023 and the Home Office is working with the DHSC and NHS England to obtain monitoring data about operation of the marker across the country.

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services currently plans to carry out a thematic inspection of police firearms licensing arrangements in its 2024-25 inspection programme. The Home Office will assist the Inspectorate with any guidance or information it requires ahead of the inspection.

Work is underway with the police on a programme of work to improve reliability of the National Firearms Licensing Management System, including establishing links with the Police National Database.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his expected timetable is to publish his Department's response to its consultation on firearms licensing.

Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons

The Government received a wide range of views in response to last year’s consultation on firearms licensing. We are carefully considering all the comments received before publishing our response, which will set out what action we intend to take to further strengthen the controls on firearms. I cannot give an exact timescale for publication but I expect this to be shortly.

The Home Office worked with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England to introduce a digital firearms marker, which is placed on GP patient records. The digital marker enables the doctor to advise police if a firearm certificate holder begins to experience a medical condition which could affect their suitability to possess firearms, so that the police can review whether the person remains suitable. The digital marker has been rolled-out to GP practices since May 2023 and the Home Office is working with the DHSC and NHS England to obtain monitoring data about operation of the marker across the country.

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services currently plans to carry out a thematic inspection of police firearms licensing arrangements in its 2024-25 inspection programme. The Home Office will assist the Inspectorate with any guidance or information it requires ahead of the inspection.

Work is underway with the police on a programme of work to improve reliability of the National Firearms Licensing Management System, including establishing links with the Police National Database.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to respond to his Department's consultation entitled Firearms licensing: a consultation on recommendations for changes made to the Home Office.

Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons

The Government received a wide range of views in response to last year’s consultation on firearms licensing.

We are carefully considering all the comments received before publishing our response, which will set out what action we intend to take to further strengthen the controls on firearms. I cannot give an exact timescale for publication but I expect this to be shortly.

Found: Chris Philp 07/03/2024 Chief Constable Warwickshire Police Discussion on firearms licensing fees.

Found: . • Liquor Licensing • Firearms Licensing – Firearms Licensing Units. • Offender Management includes

Found: into line with one another reduces fees for the certificate holder and reduces the burden on police firearms

Found: figures are not available due to the transition from in-force data collection systems to the National Firearms

Found: expedition of a Controlled Drug Licence application proforma Use this form to request the Drugs & Firearms

Found: demonstrate that they have in place and may require a compliance visit by the Home Office Drugs and Firearms

Found: 87CA Yes Lochmaddy 87EI Yes Fixed Penalty Ticket 87HF Yes Information Management 87HR Yes Firearms