Firearms licensing: Referees
The Firearms Acts require an applicant, for the grant or renewal of a firearm certificate, to supply the names and addresses of two people who have agreed to act as referees.
Referees are to firearms, what countersignatories are to shotguns and
most of the same criteria apply.
The main difference is that you require two referees, each of which must complete a "reference form" called a Form 125, as shown below.
The reference form is the same colour blue as a firearm grant form (Form 101). Please ensure that you receive two reference forms with your grant application form.
When an applicant for the grant of a firearm certificate completes his application form (101), he should enter the details of his two referees in Part E.
Each of the referees should read the completed application form, then sign and date the declaration. The referees should then be given a copy of the Reference Form 125, to be completed in private.
It is essential that the referee completes all sections fully, particularly questions 15-18 in Part C. If any are left blank or not completed satisfactorily, the form will be returned to the referee resulting in a delay. Answering these questions with "no" or "none" or "n/a" is not acceptable and unhelpful in assisting the enquiry officer to assess the applicant. It may well result in the enquiry officer deciding that the referee does not know the applicant personally, as required.
The criteria for acceptability is much the same as for shotgun countersignatures, except in the case of renewal of a firearms certificate for target shooting. In this situation one of the referees must be a club official of the approved club named on the applicant's firearm certificate.
In these circumstances it is not a requirement for the club official to have known the applicant personally for at least two years and, Registered Firearms Dealers may act as referees, if they are also club officials. The second referee must not be a member of any target shooting club.
For the grant of a firearms certificate it is not essential that one of the referees is a club official.
When fully completed the referee must sign and date the declaration, then return the reference form direct to the Police Licensing Department within 28 days. It must not be shown, or returned to the applicant for submission, and the reference should be given freely and not on payment.
If the referee knows of any matter or occurrence of which they think the Chief Officer of Police should be aware, they should include it on the form. They should also mention anything that gives rise to any concern they may have about the applicant's suitability to possess firearms.
All information will be treated in the strictest confidence, but the referee may be interviewed by the police to clarify any statement on the form.