The Government worked closely with the police and the medical profession on the development of the firearms marker that General Practitioners (GPs) place on the medical records of those who are licensed to hold a firearms certificate. The marker helps with monitoring of firearms certificate holders by alerting GPs to advise the police if there are any changes in relevant medical conditions that the police need to be made aware of so that the police force can assess whether a person remains suitable to possess a firearm certificate. Work is currently underway to digitalise the firearms marker to further strengthen these arrangements.

The new Statutory Guidance for police forces on firearms licensing, which came into effect on 1 November 2021, introduced improved arrangements for medical checks to ensure that no one is given a firearms certificate unless their doctor has confirmed to the police whether they have any relevant medical conditions. While the Home Office does not routinely monitor GPs’ use of the firearms marker on medical records, the Statutory Guidance will be kept under review to ensure that firearms licensing arrangements remain as effective as possible to protect the safety of the public including in relation to the medical check arrangements and use of the firearms marker.

While doctors can charge a fee to provide the medical information in relation to a firearms certificate application, whether a fee is charged or the level of the fee if it is charged, are a matter between the applicant and the doctor. The Statutory Guidance has made it a requirement that the police must receive relevant medical information about the applicant before a firearms certificate can be granted or renewed by the police force.

The Government worked closely with the police and the medical profession on the development of the firearms marker that General Practitioners (GPs) place on the medical records of those who are licensed to hold a firearms certificate. The marker helps with monitoring of firearms certificate holders by alerting GPs to advise the police if there are any changes in relevant medical conditions that the police need to be made aware of so that the police force can assess whether a person remains suitable to possess a firearm certificate. Work is currently underway to digitalise the firearms marker to further strengthen these arrangements.

The new Statutory Guidance for police forces on firearms licensing, which came into effect on 1 November 2021, introduced improved arrangements for medical checks to ensure that no one is given a firearms certificate unless their doctor has confirmed to the police whether they have any relevant medical conditions. While the Home Office does not routinely monitor GPs’ use of the firearms marker on medical records, the Statutory Guidance will be kept under review to ensure that firearms licensing arrangements remain as effective as possible to protect the safety of the public including in relation to the medical check arrangements and use of the firearms marker.

While doctors can charge a fee to provide the medical information in relation to a firearms certificate application, whether a fee is charged or the level of the fee if it is charged, are a matter between the applicant and the doctor. The Statutory Guidance has made it a requirement that the police must receive relevant medical information about the applicant before a firearms certificate can be granted or renewed by the police force.

The Government worked closely with the police and the medical profession on the development of the firearms marker that General Practitioners (GPs) place on the medical records of those who are licensed to hold a firearms certificate. The marker helps with monitoring of firearms certificate holders by alerting GPs to advise the police if there are any changes in relevant medical conditions that the police need to be made aware of so that the police force can assess whether a person remains suitable to possess a firearm certificate. Work is currently underway to digitalise the firearms marker to further strengthen these arrangements.

The new Statutory Guidance for police forces on firearms licensing, which came into effect on 1 November 2021, introduced improved arrangements for medical checks to ensure that no one is given a firearms certificate unless their doctor has confirmed to the police whether they have any relevant medical conditions. While the Home Office does not routinely monitor GPs’ use of the firearms marker on medical records, the Statutory Guidance will be kept under review to ensure that firearms licensing arrangements remain as effective as possible to protect the safety of the public including in relation to the medical check arrangements and use of the firearms marker.

While doctors can charge a fee to provide the medical information in relation to a firearms certificate application, whether a fee is charged or the level of the fee if it is charged, are a matter between the applicant and the doctor. The Statutory Guidance has made it a requirement that the police must receive relevant medical information about the applicant before a firearms certificate can be granted or renewed by the police force.

The Home Office continues to work with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) to ensure that the data on the Police National Computer (PNC) is necessary, proportionate and accurate, including medical status data. The Home Office has no plans for specific guidance or support to forces at present regarding HIV status beyond that already published in the PNC Manual.

The firearms marker on a GP’s patient’s record enables the GP to advise the police if a licensed firearm or shotgun holder begins to suffer from a relevant medical condition while their firearm certificate is valid. Trials testing the medical arrangements took place in Essex and Wiltshire prior to the introduction of a new system in 2016. The results of the trials were not placed in the House Library but were made available to, and were considered by, the members of the working group developing the medical arrangements, including police, medical and shooting representatives. The Government is supportive of the use of the medical marker as a means of helping to ensure that firearm certificates are held safely.

The police are responsible for assessing the suitability of those who apply for the grant or renewal of a firearm or shotgun certificate. The police carry out a number of checks to ensure that those in possession of firearms do not pose a danger to public safety, including in relation to medical suitability based on information from the applicant’s GP.

Use of the firearms marker on GP patient records enables the GP to advise the police if a person begins to suffer from a relevant medical condition while their firearms certificate is valid, enabling the police to review their suitability. The Government is supportive of the use of the medical marker as a means of helping to ensure firearms licences are held safely.

Firearms licensing is an operational matter for police forces. The police are not required to provide data to the Home Office about how the medical checks are conducted or the response from GPs. The police carry out a number of checks to ensure that those in possession of firearms do not pose a danger to public safety, including in relation to medical suitability. As part of this process, GPs are asked to provide information about whether the applicant has suffered from a number of relevant medical conditions.

The Government has consulted on the introduction of new statutory firearms guidance to police, which includes proposals for revised medical arrangements to ensure that police have the medical information they require before the grant of a certificate. The consultation closed on 17 September and the Government will publish its response and the statutory guidance in due course.