BASC builds relationships with Humberside and Cheshire PCCs
Meetings between BASC and the Police and Crime Commissioners of both Humberside and Cheshire police have yielded positive outcomes for licence holders.
Government refuses to act on medical markers
BASC has expressed its disappointment that the Government continues to refuse to make GP medical markers mandatory for firearms and shotgun certificate holders, while at the same time pressing ahead with a consultation on strengthening shotgun licensing rules.
The position was underlined during a Westminster Hall debate which saw strong cross-party support for mandatory medical markers.
BASC believes a mandatory GP medical marker is a simple, proportionate safeguard and has long argued that the current, voluntary, “best endeavours” approach is inconsistent and leaves gaps in the licensing system.
The debate was initiated by Liberal Democrat MP Helen Maguire, who set out the case for mandatory medical markers as a means of ensuring concerns are identified when they arise, rather than waiting until a licence renewal. She said: “There is currently no obligation on GPs to use the marker. Their use is left to the best endeavours of GPs. That is a missed opportunity to save lives, to safeguard vulnerable adults with access to firearms, and to protect public safety.”
MP support for medical markers
During the debate, MPs from across Parliament backed mandatory medical markers.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Shooting and Conservation, said: “I have been campaigning with BASC on the issue of medical markers for many years.”
“If a compulsory system were introduced, there would be a check between the granting and renewal of shotgun and firearms licences.”
This call was also supported by Mark Garnier MP, chair of the British Shooting Sports Council, which represents 15 leading shooting organisations.
Liberal Democrat MP Edward Morello said the voluntary nature of the current system was its central weakness. He said: “There are flaws in the system: its use is voluntary, it may not account for online workarounds, which people are adept at using, and there is no obligation on GPs to apply the marker,” he said. “The evidence strongly supports change. The police support mandatory markers. The British Association for Shooting and Conservation supports them and has suggested that they be incorporated into GP contracts. The British Medical Association now recommends their use.”
MPs also raised concerns about inconsistency and delay in firearms licensing across police forces, with calls for a single licensing authority. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP said that “BASC thinks that there are about half a million shotgun certificate holders and about 150,000 firearms certificate holders, so this is a large and costly job for the 43 forces to undertake.”
He added there was “a case for considering more centralisation of shotgun and firearms certificates”, while Liberal Democrat MP Rachel Gilmour said she “fully supports the idea of a centralised licensing system”.
Alongside support for medical markers, MPs from more than one party questioned the Government’s decision to consult on merging shotgun licensing rules with firearms. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP described the proposal as “totally disproportionate”, while Conservative MP Gregory Stafford warned it risks adding cost and complexity without clear evidence of improved public safety.
Despite this cross-party support, Home Office minister Mike Tapp MP confirmed that the Government does not intend to make GP medical markers mandatory. He said: “Although I understand why there are calls for such markers to be mandatory, the Government do not consider that to be necessary at this point.”
At the same time, the minister confirmed that the Government will proceed with a public consultation on strengthening shotgun licensing controls.
A measure that addresses known risks
Commenting on the debate, BASC’s director of firearms, Bill Harriman, said: “BASC would like to thank MPs from across Parliament who spoke in favour of mandatory GP medical markers during the debate.
“BASC has long called for a mandatory GP medical marker on certificate holders’ medical records. It’s a straightforward, forward-looking safeguard that helps ensure the licensing system responds to changes in health that may affect firearms safety.
“The current “best endeavours” system is inconsistent and leaves gaps, and new guidance does not resolve that fundamental weakness. Mandatory medical markers are widely supported by police, medical professionals, shooting organisations and MPs from across Parliament.
“It is disappointing that the Government is pressing ahead with proposals to merge shotgun and firearms licensing while refusing to act on a measure that directly addresses known risks.
“Alongside this, BASC believes the time has come for England and Wales to follow Scotland’s example and establish a single firearms licensing authority, bringing greater consistency, accountability and resilience to the system.”
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