Grant: £50.00
Renewal: £40.00
Variation: £26.00
Payment via cheques made payable to: Hampshire Police Authority
A Firearm Certificate covers Section 1 firearms which in general are guns that:
- have a lethal barrel from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged and any accessory to any such weapon (i.e. sound moderator) designed or adapted to diminish noise or flash caused by firing the gun.
- any ammunition which may be used with a Section 1 gun.
Following new Firearms Legislation in 1997 handguns, i.e. pistols and revolvers of any calibre are regarded as prohibited guns and, therefore, with a very few exceptions no person in the United Kingdom will be authorised to possess such guns.
These exceptions are as follows:
Animal Slaughtering Instruments
Many slaughtering instruments used in abattoirs are prohibited by the 1997 Act. But the Act allows licensed slaughterers to buy, possess and sell them if they have a police firearm certificate which allows them to do so.
Humane Killing of Animals and Veterinary Treatment
People who need pistols or revolvers to kill animals humanely - for instance, veterinary surgeons - can buy, possess and sell them if they have a police firearm certificate which allows them to do so. The certificate must specify that the handgun is only to be used for the humane killing of animals. There are similar arrangements for people who need handguns to administer veterinary tranquilliser and other treatment.
Shot Pistols
People who need shot pistols in .410 or 9mm rim-fire for shooting rats and other vermin in confined spaces can buy, possess and sell them if they have a police firearm certificate which allows them to do so. The certificate must specify that the shot pistol is only to be used for shooting vermin.
Athletics Starting Guns
Race starters can have a pistol or revolver in their possession at an athletics meeting to start races. They may have one in their possession at other times if they hold a police firearm certificate or visitor’s firearm permit - for instance, to allow them to keep it at home. The certificate or permit must specify that the pistol or revolver is only to be used for starting races.
Trophies of War
Owners of handguns held as trophies of war may keep them, provided that the trophy was acquired before 1946 and they hold a firearm certificate of visitor’s firearm permit for it.
Historic Handguns
The 1997 Act allows owners of historic handguns to continue to retain them under strict conditions. There is a separate leaflet giving full details of this. You may obtain a copy of this leaflet from the firearms licensing department.
There are approximately 4,500 firearm certificate holders in the counties of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The majority of these people own firearms for vermin destruction and sporting purposes. Other uses are for target shooting, humane slaughter and in a few cases purely for collection purposes.
Before a firearm certificate is issued the applicant must satisfy the Chief Officer of Police of the two main points:
- That he/she is a fit person to be entrusted with firearms.
- That the applicant has a good reason to acquire and possess each individual gun.
When looking at the ‘fit person' area, facts such as conviction history, referees, ability and safety in use and storage of firearms are taken into account amongst other checks.
The ‘good reason’ requirement is quite simple. The applicant must provide details of good reason by explaining in detail why he requires a particular gun and provide proof that he had facilities to use that gun.
Once the certificate is issued the applicant is required to continue to prove ‘good reason’ or the Chief Officer of Police may have grounds to revoke the certificate.
