HL Deb 11 February 1986 vol 471 c184WA
Lord Hill-Norton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (i) What is the maximum penalty provided by law in cases where holders of firearm certificates forget to inform a chief officer of police of a change in their permanent address;
  2. (ii) Whether the power exists for a court or a chief officer of police to revoke a firearm certificate in cases where the holder forgets to notify a change of address;
  3. (iii) Either generally or in respect of any sample taken, what proportion of firearm certificate holders fail to notify a change in their permanent address to the chief officer of police, what proportion of shotgun certificate holders fail to notify such a change and, having regard to the numbers of each type of certificate, whether such failures differ significantly in the two types of certificate; and
  4. (iv) Whether there is any statistical or other evidence (excluding pure opinions) to indicate whether the imposition of a statutory duty to notify a change of address would produce a significantly better response than the use of education or publicity, and whether they will publish the details of any research undertaken.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Glenarthur)

Under the Firearms Act 1968 it is an offence for holders of firearm certificates to fail to notify a change of address. The maximum penalty is six months' imprisonment, or a fine of £2,000, or both, and the courts and the police have power to revoke a certificate in such circumstances. There is no similar requirement at present for a shotgun certificate holder to notify change of address. Such a requirement was recommended in the report of the Working Party on the Administration of the Firearms Act 1968 (a copy of which is in the Library) because of the time spent by police forces trying to locate shotgun holders who have moved. I understand that the working party did not conduct a statistical survey, but the experience of the police firearms officers on the working party was that a substantial number of shotgun certificate holders fail to notify change of address.

in addition to the consideration mentioned by the working party there is a need to ensure the integrity of the shotgun certificate control system, in order to ensure that shotguns do not fall into the wrong hands. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary therefore intends to bring the shotgun certificate system into line with the firearm certificate system in this particular respect, by amendment to the Firearms Rules. Its introduction will of course be accompanied by suitable advice and publicity in order to achieve the maximum impact. My right honourable friend does not consider that it would be sufficient to rely on advice alone.