PSNI respond to questions from Policing Board about Firearms and Explosives Branch

Back in January representatives of the Northern Ireland Firearms Representative Group (NIFRG), including Countryside Alliance Ireland Director, Gary McCartney, BASC NI Director, Tommy Mayne, and Country Sports Ireland Chief Executive, Ronan Gorman, briefed members of the NI Policing Boards Performance Committee on concerns regarding PSNI Firearms and Explosives Branch (FEB).

NIFRG representatives conveyed deep dissatisfaction with the current backlogs, FEB policies and procedures and suspension of the destruction of firearms facility which is impacting on dealers. In addition, concerns were also raised around PSNI stakeholder engagement and how this had caused a breakdown in relationships.

The Policing Board members probed and shared the concerns, committing to raise these issues with PSNI. In response to questions raised by the Policing Board, Chief Constable Simon Byrne gave a presentation to the Board on 6 April 2023.

In the response from the PSNI, they set out their long term aim for the system to be more automated as well as granting applicants access to view and edit their data for smoother application process. However, it goes on to say FEB has requested a legislative change which is now being undertaken by the Department of Justice.

While we have not yet heard anything from the Department of Justice around this request from FEB, any legislative changes will likely bring up the thorny issues of fees and attempts by FEB to place more barriers and restrictions in the way for people looking to hold, or continue to hold, firearms legitimately.

There are also positives in that it will also allow us to challenge FEB and the Department of Justice to make the system better for firearms users and dealers. Countryside Alliance Ireland will work with the members of the NIFRG and political representatives to make this happen.

The report goes on to say "the continuing focus is public safety and a satisfactory service". In terms of the latter, with budgetary constraints placed on the PSNI making them focus their resources on emergency incident response and statutory functions, this may result in even worse delays for firearms holders as the PSNI are likely to take staff from the Branch to fill other critical rolls.

Every month the Branch receives around 1400 applications (with over 300 one-on/one-off applications and addresses), over 4000 other transactions such as change of address or visitor permits, and they go on to claim there is approximately 2400 applications still in the backlog as of 30 March 2023.

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