Applying for a Shotgun Licence 

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 shotgun?

If the Chief Constable is satisfied that you do not have a good reason for requiring a shotgun your application will be refused.

Can you be permitted to possess a shotgun without danger to the public safety or to the peace?

If the Chief Constable is satisfied that the place where you will use the shotgun/s 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 shotgun you will not be granted a certificate.
 

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 in your usual signature. A second photograph is to be endorsed on the back in ink by the countersignatory.

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 person whom you are asking to countersign your application. If the response to a question is not applicable you should write in the space provided. Do not leave boxes blank. You are asked to declare any convictions and new applications are not entitled to withhold any convictions (including traffic offences), 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 person you ask to countersign your application.

Details of shotguns

The first part of this section relates to the conditions under which any shotgun/s will be stored. You should be specific as you can be about your storage arrangements. In most cases if you are going to acquire your own shotgun/s they will be stored in you home in some sort of secure containment although there may be circumstances where you would wish your shotgun/s to be kept at another location such as at a gun club or at another shotgun certificate holder's premises. Wherever you decide to keep any shotgun/s you should detail this on the form. If you do not intend to acquire your own shotgun/s but simply intend to borrow a shotgun from someone and return it to them each day you should write that on the form also. If you state that this is your intention but later change your mind and decide to acquire a shotgun of your own you will then be required to comply with the requirement to store your shotgun securely.

What is adequate security?

It is not possible to be exhaustive on what constitutes adequate security but you should aim to keep your shotgun/s 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. 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 shotgun/s. This includes other members of your household.

What about shared security?

Shared security arrangements are acceptable provided everybody who has access to the shotgun/s in a cabinet has them listed on their certificates 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 shotgun/s further secured within the cabinet to prevent anybody else from removing them.

As a new applicant you should not have any shotguns in your possession at the time of the application and should write none in the box provided. This applies even if you know the details of the shotgun/s you will acquire if your application is successful.

Firearm and or shotgun certificates

If you already hold a firearm certificate it is worth considering asking for your new shotgun certificate to expire on the same date as the firearm certificate provided it still has a reasonable time to run. This may be more convenient for you and will save you money at the time of renewal of both certificates rather than renewing them separately.

Countersignature

You now have to find someone to countersign your application. There are notes on the form to give you guidance on who can do this. Remember that they also have to endorse the back of one of your photographs declaring that it is a current true likeness. The person who countersigns your application must see your answers to questions 1 to 16 on the application form and 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 countersign your application 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?

Check that you have signed and dated the declaration at Part 'E' 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 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. Your application will then 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 want to know where you intend to use your shotgun/s and for what purpose. They will also wish to examine the security arrangements you have made.

The enquiry officer will check the place where you intend to use the shotgun/s to confirm its suitability and will visit the person who countersigned your application. 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 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