Written question asked by Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru) on Monday, 13 January 2020, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 January 2020 (named day). It was answered by Kit Malthouse (Conservative) on Thursday, 16 January 2020 on behalf of the Home Office.

Firearms: Wales

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the number of firearms certificates whose life has been extended by Dyfed–Powys police firearms licensing department.

Answer

The Home Office does not hold data on the proportion of firearms licensing applications and renewals that are completed within eight weeks of being received. Under the Firearms Act 1968, firearm and shotgun certificate administration is a matter for the chief officer of police for the area in which the applicant lives. The time taken to process a firearm or shotgun application can vary between forces as the respective chief officer must take into account the need to manage risk and ensure public protection in their respective force area.

In respect of applications for renewal of firearm certificates, the Policing and Crime Act 2017 added provisions to the Firearms Act 1968 which

automatically extend the validity of firearm and shotgun certificates for a

limited period of up to eight weeks where the application for renewal has been made at least eight weeks prior to the expiry of the certificate. This allows the police extra time to complete all the necessary checks without it impacting on a certificate holderâs activities through the expiry of the certificate. The Home Office does not collect data on the number of applications which have

benefitted from these provisions since they were introduced on 17 April 2018 but the table below provides statistics on the number of new and renewal

applications processed by Dyfed-Powys police firearms licensing department since 2008/09.

Firearm certificates by police force area: applications, revocations, certificates on issue and firearms covered by certificates, 2009/10 to 2018/19
New applications			Renewal applications
Year	Region	Police force area	Granted	Refused	Total	Granted	Refused	Total
2008/09	Wales	Dyfed-Powys	222	10	232	190	0	190
2009/10	Wales	Dyfed-Powys	223	8	231	285	0	285
2010/11	Wales	Dyfed-Powys	315	3	318	777	7	784
2011/12	Wales	Dyfed-Powys	391	3	394	901	4	905
2012/13	Wales	Dyfed-Powys	317	9	326	871	0	871
2013/14	Wales	Dyfed-Powys	284	7	291	394	0	394
2014/15	Wales	Dyfed-Powys	230	0	230	443	0	443
2015/16	Wales	Dyfed-Powys	269	4	273	796	0	796
2016/17	Wales	Dyfed-Powys	309	4	313	1,008	3	1,011
2017/18	Wales	Dyfed-Powys	249	10	259	884	1	885
2018/19	Wales	Dyfed-Powys	190	7	197	451	1	452
Note: The police force area recorded on the NFLMS for a certificate holder relates to the holders primary address, therefore this may not necessarily be where their weapon(s) is held.

The resourcing of police firearms licensing departments is a matter for chief constables. Monitoring the efficiency and effectiveness of police firearms licensing departments is carried out by Her Majestyâs Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services. In 2015 HMICFRS carried out a thematic inspection of police firearms licensing departments and recommended that chief constables should assess the demand placed on their firearms licensing department and ensure it has the capacity to meet this demand and provide an efficient and effective service at all times.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 2586
Session: 2019-21
Grouped for answer: Yes
Subjects: Licensing Firearms Wales Dyfed-Powys Police
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Firearms: Wales

Secondary information

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