Gun licences issued to children
More than 11,000 shotgun licences have been issued by West Midlands Police in recent years including nearly three dozen to youngsters under 16. More than 11,000 shotgun licences have been issued by West Midlands Police in recent years including nearly three dozen to youngsters under 16. And although up to 3,000 applications have been submitted to the police force each year since 2002, just a handful of those have been refused. The figures have been released to the Express & Star after a request through the Freedom of Information Act. Between 2002 and 2006 11,701 licences were issued in total , although some of those will have gone to people who were renewing old licences. During that same time span, there were 11,733 applications, meaning 32 were turned down because the applicant was considered likely to be a danger to the public or the peace. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
And although up to 3,000 applications have been submitted to the police force each year since 2002, just a handful of those have been refused.
The figures have been released to the Express & Star after a request through the Freedom of Information Act. Between 2002 and 2006 11,701 licences were issued in total , although some of those will have gone to people who were renewing old licences.
During that same time span, there were 11,733 applications, meaning 32 were turned down because the applicant was considered likely to be a danger to the public or the peace.
And between those years, 31 young people under the age of 16 were granted a shotgun licence.
In 2002 and 2003 just one licence was issued to under 16s, in 2004 there were four, in 2005, there were 11 and in 2006 there were 14 applications granted.
The police say reasons for granting a licence include for use in clay pigeon shooting and vermin control. Items such as smooth bore muskets, used in historical re-enactments, also require a shotgun licence.
One historical re-enactment enthusiast, who asked not to be named, said: "The ones we used are so old fashioned you would have a lot of difficulty committing a crime. You would have to beg your victim to stand still for five minutes while you loaded it."
But, he added it was unlikely under 16s in most re-enactment groups would require a licence as they don't take part in military battles until they reach that age. Instead it was likely licences were being granted to farmers' children.
A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "We work within the firearms legislation and if an applicant meets the criteria as set out in the legislation they will be granted a licence."
