asked Her Majesty's Government:
In the past two years in Northern Ireland, how many firearms certificates have been refused renewal; how many firearms certificates have been renewed; and, of those individuals whose certificates have been refused, how many have no criminal convictions. [HL2840]
The Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland has provided the following information:
Granted Refused Granted Refused Applications 12,486 186 23,950 152
Notes:
1. It is not possible to provide information about the number of refused applicants who have no criminal convictions.
2. Firearm certificates are no longer renewed. A person whose certificate has expired is subject to the full grant process.
3. The increase in processed applications in 2006-07 reflects a clearance of a backlog of applications from the previous year.