§ The Earl of Shrewsburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
In view of the fact that some police forces are currently taking several weeks to renew firearms and shotgun certificates, whether chief officers should be obliged to provide certificate holders with written assurance that in the event of the expiry of their current certificates before renewal they will not be liable for prosecution should they continue to hold firearms (listed on their certificate) without a renewed certificate. [HL3027]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton)The decision as to whether or not to issue written advice in these circumstances is a matter for the discretion of the chief officers of police of the area concerned.
We understand that it has been the established practice of many police forces not to prosecute legitimate gun owners whose certificates expire while being renewed by the police. Any criminal proceedings in such cases would be conducted by the Crown Prosecution Service, which may properly discontinue proceedings on the grounds that these are not in the public interest.