Firearms Certificates (Hansard, 21 March 1996)

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the total number of valid firearms certificates in respect of each police district of London for the current year. [21710]

§ Mr. Maclean
[holding answer 19 March 1996]: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The latest figures which are readily available relate to December 1994, when in the whole of the Metropolitan police area there were 9,345 valid firearm certificates on issue.

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is given to police officers in the evaluation of applications for firearms licences; and if he will make a statement. [21712]

§ Mr. Maclean
[holding answer 19 March 1996]: Nationally, all police officers are given training in the firearms administration process as part of their probation. Additional training is provided to those undertaking the evaluation of applications for firearms licences at the discretion of individual chief officers of police. In the majority of police forces, applications are evaluated either by dedicated trained police officers or civilian staff, or by nominated officers who are trained and experienced in firearms issues.

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total number of firearms certificates(a) issued for new applications, (b) which are renewals and (c) which are valid for more than one year in England and Wales for each year since 1985. [21709]

§ Mr. Maclean
[holding answer 19 March 1996]: The latest available information is published in the annual Home Office Statistical Bulletin 'Firearm certificate statistics, England and Wales 1994', issue 11/95, table 1, copies of which can be found in the Library.
New firearms certificates granted prior to 1995 were initially made valid for three years and could be renewed after this time for further three-year periods. Since the Firearms (Period of Certificate) Order 1994 came into 295W effect on 1 January 1995, the order has extended to five years the life of all firearms certificates granted or renewed after that date.