Firearms licensing: firearms
Fitness to be Entrusted with Firearms continued...
Further information
Where applicants have previous convictions, or where criminal intelligence has cast doubts on the suitability of that person to be entrusted with a firearm, the Chief Officer of Police will consider whether to seek additional information from other agencies likely to have had involvement with them, such as the probation services.
The Chief Officer will ensure that the reason for the enquiry is to ascertain whether there is any further evidence that the person would be unfit to possess a firearm.
Where an applicant's reason for possessing the firearm concerns its use on a farm or at a club, for example, the Chief Officer of Police will consider whether to seek additional information from persons such as the relevant farmer or secretary of the club, who may have knowledge of the applicant's character.
Where the applicant has declared on the prescribed form that they have suffered
from a mental or nervous disorder, including depression, and have consented to an approach being made to their G.P. or medical adviser, the G.P. may well be asked, in writing, to provide factual details about the condition.
Decisions on applications and revocations
will be made on an assessment of all the relevant information and on the individual merits of each case.
Evidence of previous convictions or intemperate behaviour, for example, might not result in an automatic refusal if, since that incident, the applicant has led a law-abiding life and shown a capacity to be entrusted to possess a firearm. Naturally this would not apply in the case of a prohibited person.