The Gun Trade Association (GTA) has challenged an unlawful decision by the Metropolitan Police regarding firearms licensing procedures. The issue arose when the police attempted to issue a new form requiring medical checks for all employees of Registered Firearms Dealers (RFDs), a move deemed unlawful by the Home Office.
This intervention highlights the importance of proper legal processes and the role of the GTA in ensuring fair and accountable policing.
Simon West, executive director of the GTA, commented: “We had a situation where the head of licensing decided that it would be a good idea that every servant of every Registered Firearms Dealer (RFD) who is allowed access to firearms and ammunition should have the same medical record check as a certificate holder. Now I believe this is a sensible idea, I don’t disagree with
the principle.”
While acknowledging the merit of the idea, West emphasised the need for proper procedures. “Good idea. Let’s discuss it. There are systems where you bring those things up for discussion on the national level. The Home Office then consults on those things with all the different stakeholders that have an interest, and if it’s agreed that it makes sense, then it is brought forward into some sort of legal process through legislation.”
However, the Metropolitan Police took an unconventional approach by producing their own form and distributing it to all RFDs, stating that renewals would not be granted without medical checks for all employees. Thanks to the intervention of a number of GTA members, including barrister, Nick Doherty, who provided a legal opinion, the issue was brought to a head. “We were able to take that opinion to the police and the Home Office at a meeting in London a few weeks ago,”
says West.
He explained that the Home Office made it clear to the police that new standards and processes could not be established without following the proper procedures.
This incident stresses the importance of adhering to established legal processes. “This is an example of how the trade were able to use a process to push back. Now, I’m not pushing back on the idea of servants having medical checks; actually, employers might want to be sure their employees are stable. But it wasn’t done the proper way. It was making it up as they go along. And that shouldn’t
be allowed.”
West stressed the need for a consistent application of the law in the UK’s rigorously controlled firearms licensing environment. “We live in a very strictly controlled firearms licensing world in the UK. We don’t need other people coming up with good ideas because it’s unfair. And it’s not the proper way to conduct open and accountable policing.”
While new ideas and improvements are welcome, they must be implemented through the correct channels to ensure fairness and legality. The GTA’s actions demonstrate the importance of vigilance and advocacy in protecting the interests of its members and maintaining the integrity of the firearms licensing process.
