PCC urges stronger firearms sales safeguards after HMICFRS Report

Bedfordshire’s PCC has issued the following statement following the HMIC inspection of firearms licensing:

"I welcome this report from HMICFRS and the renewed focus on ensuring that firearms licensing arrangements are robust, consistent and centred on public safety.

"However, my principal concern remains the sale and exchange of firearms, which receives relatively little attention in the report.

"I have previously raised concerns with the Home Secretary about weaknesses in the current arrangements governing the sale and exchange of firearms. It is clear to me that the law does not currently provide sufficient safeguards to prevent firearms being acquired through the use of fraudulent documentation.

"I welcome the recommendation for a digital verification system. However, I continue to believe that further action is required. Anyone seeking to purchase a firearm should be required to provide verified confirmation from the police that they are entitled to possess it, and vendors should have access to that confirmation before any sale or exchange takes place.

"The public rightly expect stringent and effective safeguards not only when firearms certificates are issued, but also when firearms change hands. We should take every possible step to prevent firearms falling into the wrong hands and to maintain public confidence in the system."