| Description | Statistics on firearms in Scotland |
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| ISBN | (Web Only) |
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| Official Print Publication Date | |
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| Website Publication Date | August 24, 1999 |
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5. Firearm dealers (Tables 5 and 6)
Number of firearm dealers registered and new applications (Table 5)
5.1 In 1998, the total number of firearms dealers registered fell for the fourth consecutive year. At December 1998, 295 dealers were registered to sell firearms compared with 313 in 1997 and 350 in the peak year 1994. In 1998, new applications for registration as dealers were granted in 23 cases, almost double the number granted in 1997 (12) but less than half the number of new registrations granted in 1993 (48). None of these new applications made in 1998 were refused.
Analysis by police force area (Table 6)
5.2 In 1998, 181 dealers had their request for renewal of their registration granted compared to 24 in 1997, 35 in 1996 and 233 in 1995. There were two dealers who had their application for the renewal of their registration refused. Twenty-four per cent of all renewal applications granted and a similar percentage of all dealers registered were recorded by Strathclyde Police. (It should be noted that the number of dealers renewing their registration in any one year varies according to the duration of the firearm dealer's registration (Section 13 of the 1988 Act increased the registration period for dealers from 1 to 3 years)).
6. Visitors' Permits (Table 7)
6.1 The Firearms Acts (Amendment) Regulations 1992 which came into force on 1 January 1993 amended firearms legislation in Great Britain to meet the requirement of the EC Weapons Directive which controls the acquisition and possession of weapons in EC Member states.
6.2 Information on the number of applications for Visitors' Permits from EC and non-EC residents was collected centrally for the first time in 1994. In 1998 there was a total of 3,536 applications for a Visitors' Permit from EC and non-EC residents for a firearm (down from 4,152 in 1997) and 5,777 applications for a shot gun (down from 6,449 in 1997). Tayside Police received 42 per cent of the total number of applications for a shot gun permit while 35 per cent of the total number of applications for a firearm permit were made to Northern Constabulary.
7. European Firearm Passes (Table 8)
7.1 Similar to Visitors' Permits, information on the number of applications for a European Firearm Pass has been collected centrally since 1994. In 1998, the total number of European Firearm Passes on issue at 31 December was 444 compared to 379in 1997. Strathclyde Police recorded the highest number of passes on issue (144) and Northern Constabulary the lowest (23). Lothian & Borders Police received 24 per cent of all new applications for a European Firearm Pass and all renewal applications for a European Firearm Pass, 6 in 1998.
Chart 5 Number of European Firearm Passes on issue at 31 December, 1998
