New UK guidelines for police

tonysopprano

This is an interesting document.

Statutory_Guidance_for_Firearms_Licensing_-_Final__Nov_2021_.pdf

Cass

At first it reads like the Commissioner's Guidelines, but then the medical bit came up. Some seriously, imo, questionable ground there. Other than the fee issue its basically saying we cannot get your medical records, but if we don't you may be refused, and while medical records cannot be asked for, nor a recommendation (for or against) by the GP on the application, they may be needed/required. Oh, and any costs are the responsibility of the applicant.

Well that is a more cynical, and personalised, view point of it but it seems a work around towards getting people's medical history. I understand the need for people with mental health issues to be "flagged", but it seems very broad sweeping and watered down version of psychology checks without the psychologist.

The rest, only a cursory glance, seems straight forward and again much like our own guidelines but much more detailed.

Grizzly 45

Got a lot more details on reasons to refuse,and tBH when you read it it's downright sinister as to what they can refuse you on,[seems to be just about anything, even hearsay ], and also not have to tell you why they refused you as well. As well as poking about the internet to see what you might have written that constitutes "hate speech" to any oppressed, or offended minority.

More tragic is the fact that any sort of mental problems that you went to get medical assistance for, even in the past can be used against you in this consideration of refusal. This is really bad for people who might have depression or the like that are no danger to themselves or anyone else will keep this bottled up and let it get worse, and possibly the only thing that does help their depression[shooting] has the potential to be removed from them on their doctor's recommendation, and there are plenty of anti-gun doctors in the UK as well, who either refuse to sign off on these certs or are just waiting for the excuse to shut you down. Or are just afraid they will be held responsible if you go and do another Plymouth. End result people will be utterly terrified of going anywhere their GP with a touch of the blues for fear of losing their licenses, and bottle this up with possible worse consequences.

TBH after reading that, just be thankful we have our system here in licensing folks.At least our Supers cant take our posts here on boards and use them against us....Most of the time that is.

Traumadoc

Most of this is reactionary stuff, to Plymouth or whatever, but the perpetrator in this case as in others did not have mental health issues but have behavioural problems.

There really is no reason to look for mental health reports from GPs as they dont treat behavioural issues. If police really wanted to weed out someone who was a potential to "go postal" as social worker report or even a teachers report would be far more effective.

I agree that a shooter with depression/anxiety  would be very unlikely to seek medical help if the consquence would be the unjust forfeit of a firearms license.

Cass

The idea was floated here some time back, think it was in or around the 2009 act, and it was dismissed by the majority of GPs as they said the same as you. We're not qualified, prepared, nor able to do what is being asked of us and for the relevant professional the waiting times would be so long and the sessions so "fleeting" that they would be little more than rubber stamping.

There is also the issue of unpredictable. You cannot legislate for it.

Grizzly 45

It was actually around 1998/2000!!! When this was first mooted.I was cleaning out some old floppy discs here this week and I found some saved newspaper articles[Sunday Tribune and Ireland on Sunday] on this and the controversy about the installing of compulsory gun safes.