Applying for a Firearms Certificate
WHAT SHOULD I CONSIDER FIRST?
Are you prohibited by statute from possessing a firearm or ammunition?
Persons who have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment in excess of three months including a life sentence are prohibited from having a firearm or ammunition in their possession for certain periods unless set aside by a sheriff.
Do you have a good reason for requiring a firearm or ammunition?
It is your responsibility to provide sufficient evidence to show that you have a good reason for requiring each firearm and quantity of ammunition you are applying for otherwise all or part of your application may be refused.
Can you be permitted to possess a firearm without danger to the public safety or to the peace?
If the Chief Constable is satisfied that the place where you will use the firearm is unsafe or that your storage arrangements are insufficiently secure he will refuse the application. Similarly if your personal conduct indicates that you are unsuited to be safely entrusted with a firearm or that you are of unsound mind or intemperate habits your application will be refused.
I HAVE DECIDED TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION - WHAT DO I DO NOW?
Complete the application form
Most of the questions on the application form are self explanatory and there are notes on the form to assist you, however, the following may help you complete the form with all the details that are required to process your application.
Photographs
You are required to submit four passport sized identical photographs of yourself along with your application. These should show your full face, without a hat and be a current true likeness. ONE of the photographs must be signed on the back in ink with your usual signature. Each of the referees should endorse a separate photograph declaring it to be a current true likeness.
Personal details
The first 16 questions on the form relate to your personal details. It is important that you answer all questions on this part of the form before showing it to the persons whom you are asking to be your referees. If the response to a question is not applicable you should write that in the space provided. Do not leave boxes blank. You are asked to declare any convictions (including road traffic offences) and new applicants are not entitled to withhold any convictions no matter how old they may be. If there is not enough space on the form to give the required details you can add them on a separate sheet of paper so long as you sign and date it. Remember to show the additional information to the persons you ask to be your referees.
Details of firearms and ammunition
The first two parts of this section relate to firearms or ammunition in your possession now. As a new applicant you should have none in your possession and write 'none' in the boxes provided. This applies even if you know the details of the firearms you will acquire if your application is successful.
The third part of this section relates to the firearms you wish to acquire. You must give the use you intend to put the firearm to and the place where you will use the firearm opposite each individual entry. The reason given should specify the type of quarry each firearm is required for. Where any firearm is to be used for target shooting you must be a member of an approved club and show details of that club as the place of use.
The fourth and fifth parts of this section relate to the maximum quantity of ammunition you wish to have in your possession at any one time and the maximum amount you wish to purchase at any one time. Remember that unless the maximum amount you wish to purchase at any one time is less than the maximum amount you wish to possess you will not be able to purchase the full amount unless you have used all your previous stock. The quantity of ammunition applied for should be relevant to your expected use and may be different for every calibre.
Storage of firearms and ammunition
You should be as specific as you can be about your storage arrangements. In most cases, if you are going to acquire your own firearms, they will be stored in your home in some sort of secure containment although there may be circumstances where you would wish your firearms to be kept at another location such as at a gun club or with another firearm certificate holder who has authority for the firearms. Full details of your storage arrangements are required to be entered on the application form.
What is adequate security?
It is not possible to be exhaustive on what constitutes adequate security but you should keep your firearms in some locked container that could not be forced open by bodily pressure or the normal range of household tools. A purpose built gun cabinet made to British Standards will meet this requirement. If you have such a cabinet you should tick the box at part 22b.
Any cabinet you use should be securely fixed to the fabric of the building it is kept in. The whole security of the premises is taken into account when deciding if security arrangements are adequate and normally outbuildings or premises left unoccupied for long periods are not considered suitable locations.
Any security system is only as good as the control you exercise over the keys or alarm codes. These should not be shared with anybody who is not authorised to have access to your firearms. This includes other members of your household.
What about shared security?
Shared security arrangements are acceptable provided everybody who has access to the firearms in a cabinet has them listed on their certificate as being in their possession. If this is not acceptable you will have to ensure that each person who shares the keys for the cabinet has their own firearms further secured within the cabinet to prevent anybody else from removing them.
Referees
You now have to find two people to act as referees. There are notes on the form to give you guidance on who can do this. Remember that each referee has to endorse the back of one of your photographs declaring that it is a current true likeness. The referees must both countersign your application and must see your answers to questions 1 to 16 on the application form. You should be aware that they will be approached by the police to verify that they fully understand the nature of the declaration they have signed. For this reason it is wise to avoid asking someone to be a referee if they are due to be away from home for a lengthy period in the near future as this will delay the processing of your application until they can be seen.
THE APPLICATION FORM IS COMPLETE - WHAT DO I DO NOW?
Give each of the referees one of the referee forms you were given with the application after completing the factual details at parts 1, 2 and 3 on the forms. The referees must complete the forms and return them directly to the address shown below. Your application cannot be processed until these forms are received from the referees.
Check that you have signed and dated the declaration at part 'F' of the form and if you are under 17 years of age have it signed by a parent or guardian. If you have answered 'yes' to any of the medical questions on the first page of the form check that you have signed and dated the permission to approach your GP.
Check that you have included the four photographs suitably endorsed.
Put the application form and the photographs in an envelope with a cheque made payable to Tayside Joint Police Board for the correct fee and send it to the address shown.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN THEN?
Your application form will be checked to ensure that all relevant sections have been properly completed and that you have supplied all the photographs, suitably endorsed as required and the correct fee. If any part of your application is incomplete the application form will be returned to you for amendment and re-submission.
Once your referees have returned their forms, your application will be sent to an enquiry officer who will contact you to arrange a suitable time for a personal visit. The enquiry officer may be a police officer or a civilian firearms enquiry officer. The enquiry officer will wish to examine the security arrangements you have made for the firearms. The enquiry officer will check the places where you intend to use the firearms to confirm suitability and will visit your referees. Enquiry will be made into your background to confirm that there is nothing which would suggest you may be a danger to the public if granted a certificate.
If your application is successful your certificate will be posted to you. If your application is refused you will receive a letter giving the grounds on which the application was rejected. You have the right to appeal to a Sheriff to overturn any refusal.
Advice on the current level of fee payable is available on this page or from the Firearms Administration office as detailed below.
Your completed application should be returned to:
Firearms Administration
Tayside Police Headquarters
PO Box 59
West Bell Street
DUNDEE
DD1 9JU
Telephone (01382) 596858
