Firearms - Considerations and Explanations (PDF)

OFFICIAL Unit 7 Lesson 1.1...

OFFICIAL Unit 7 Lesson 1.1 Firearms - Considerations and Explanations Lesson Aim: The learner will be able to explain both the considerations in the control of firearms and prevalent firearms offences Learning Outcomes: Introduction On successful completion of the lesson, students will be able to:- Individuals throughout Scotland who have an interest in firearms and businesses linked to 1. Explain the safety precautions, which the firearms industry play a significant part of must be complied with when handling the UK economy. The vast majority of people firearms who possess weapons legally abide by the laws regarding their usage and storage. The main legislation relating to ownership and 2. State the definitions for firearms and the use of firearms is the Firearms Act 1968. ammunition This legislation was amended in 1988 and again in 1997 due to incidents involving the 3. Describe shotguns, air weapons and criminal use of legally held firearms. rifles Consequently, only those persons with a genuine requirement for firearms can obtain 4. Explain the relevance of component the relevant licence/certificate. These parts of firearms and firearms amendments also made ownership of certain accessories types of firearms, such as those capable of continuous or rapid fire, prohibited. Despite these controls there are a number of people 5. State the type of weapons which are who have possession of firearms illegally, classed as prohibited weapons some of which are used for criminal activities. These weapons have been obtained through a number of means, for example:- Armed forces personnel bringing home weapons from conflict zones as souvenirs. An “underworld” trade in illegal weapons smuggled into this country. Para-military organisations. Legal firearms which have been stolen. 1 th Amended 27 March 2024 v.5 OFFICIAL  OFFICIAL Unit 7 Lesson 1.1 Firearms - Considerations and Explanations There is almost a constant stream of news stories generated by the national press of people found in possession of firearms or of firearms being used in the commission of crimes. Police officers are frequently called upon to deal with firearms enquires whether it is in relation to offences committed against the Acts or regarding the grant or renewal of certificates under the Acts. It is therefore important that you have an awareness of this subject including both the legislation and general safety precautions. Case Study CS Your instructor will now guide you through some case studies Practical Considerations When dealing with firearm enquiries all the circumstances must be considered and an element of caution used. The safety of yourself and others is of paramount importance. If an officer is dealing with a routine firearm/air weapon enquiry, it may be prudent to allow the owner of the weapon to break (open) the weapon and prove it is unloaded and to indicate where the identifying marks or serial numbers are located. This must be done only if the officer believes it is safe to allow this to happen, otherwise the weapon would be seized to allow this procedure to be carried out. If you find yourself in circumstances which dictate extreme caution, you should contact your area control room who can arrange the appropriate response. Your safety and the safety of those around you is paramount. Where possible withdraw from immediate danger and await support from an armed response unit. Only if safe to do so, maintain discreet observations and report back to your controller. A Risk Assessment will have to be taken by the ACR supervisors prior to your allocation of the call or that of a more suitable response option. Note:- Cover from view does not mean cover from fire. If you can see the subject, you are likely to be in their range of fire. 2 General Police Duties OFFICIAL  OFFICIAL Unit 7 Lesson 1.1 Firearms - Considerations and Explanations Responding to Incidents The following is a guide designed for unarmed officers who are initial responders to incidents involving the use, or suspected use of firearms, or other potentially lethal weapons. The initial responder is a vital link in the gathering and provision of information to armed officers and firearms commanders. Armed officers may wish to speak to first responders prior to deployment. Where non-uniformed, unarmed officers are working alongside armed officers, consideration should be given to how they could be identified in the event of them having an overt role. Firearms officers may direct those in attendance that the wearing of a high visibility cap, vest, shirt or jacket with police markings may, attract the attention of the subject and make them more of a target. With this in mind they may be directed to remove them. Ballistic protection is equally important to armed and unarmed officers in situations where firearms may be discharged, and consideration should be given to appropriate ballistic protection. Unarmed officers should approach with caution, utilising as much ballistic protection as possible e.g. engine blocks (not electric vehicles), substantial stone walls or street furniture or large thick trees. They may be attending such an incident due to the unavailability of a more suitable resource and their initial presence is to either confirm or negate the presence of a firearm. This will be dictated by the ITFC (Initial Tactical Firearms Commander, based within the ACR and contactable via radio) and the Stay Safe guidance should be broadcast prior to, and indeed IF, there is to be a safe approach to the area of the incident. To do this they must:- STAY SAFE – Think about the safety of the public and indeed their own safety. SEE - What is happening and where. Subject Identity, description, behaviour, are they a Vulnerable Person (VP): emotional, intoxicated, mentally ill, other factors, known to Police, In possession of weapon? Description of weapon, What are they doing? Do you know their intention? Victim Public? / Police? / Where / Why / Time Critical? 3 General Police Duties OFFICIAL  OFFICIAL Unit 7 Lesson 1.1 Firearms - Considerations and Explanations Location Accurate description, paint a picture for the Initial Tactical Firearms Commander (ITFC) / Tactical Firearms Commander (TFC). TELL - Communicate in as near to real time as possible description of the incident/types of weapons etc. ACT - Stay safe, update personnel and Control Room, keep observations and contain. Do Not Approach Unnecessarily It is important that you consider your own safety. Do not unnecessarily expose yourself to danger and do not go straight to the scene without a dynamic risk assessment of the dangers. Remember:- The National Decision Model. As a first responder, you may become the focus of the armed subject’s attention. Note:- The initial response to a potential firearms incident is covered more fully within the Firearms Awareness input provided by firearms officers on this course. Firearms Safe Handling Where a firearm or suspected firearm is found or otherwise comes into police possession, ONLY Authorised Firearms Officers (AFO’s), ballistic personnel or other suitably trained personnel will make safe the weapon in accordance with their training. Other suitably trained personnel must have completed the armed policing making weapons safe module and be authorised to make weapons safe on their scope record. Note: Currently, A and N Divisions are training Firearms Enquiry Officers, (Response or community officers with enhanced training) to make weapons safe due to geographical challenges in having AFO’s attend. Other Divisions are likely to follow. Labelling Unless you are trained in the handling of firearms or you are unsure, DO NOT TOUCH IT. Leave it in situ, protect it and wait on appropriately trained staff e.g. ARV officers. 4 General Police Duties OFFICIAL  OFFICIAL Unit 7 Lesson 1.1 Firearms - Considerations and Explanations Note:- Please be aware of the tagging system in place in relation to firearms: Green Label - Once made safe, a green ‘made safe’ label must be attached to the firearm. (can be transported without a ballistic bag). Red Label - If the weapon cannot be made safe then a red label, signed by the seizing officer, must be attached to the firearm. (MUST be transported in a ballistic bag) Weapons labelled red must then be placed in secure storage and not handled further or transferred until made safe by an AFO. Do not attach the label to the trigger guard. General Safety Considerations Always treat a weapon as being a genuine firearm (as opposed to an imitation) until you can prove otherwise. Always treat a weapon as being loaded. Avoid touching the trigger or dropping the weapon. Always lay the weapon flat on the ground. Never point a weapon, loaded or otherwise, at any person. Ballistic bags should be utilised when transporting firearms. Professional Standards PS You will at some stage in your service see firearms around your office, or other place, which may be part of an enquiry. Do not allow your curiosity to draw you, or your colleagues to the firearms. 5 General Police Duties OFFICIAL  OFFICIAL Unit 7 Lesson 1.1 Firearms - Considerations and Explanations Definitions Definition of Firearm To distinguish between those weapons controlled by the Act, and those that are not, the following interpretation of the term “firearm” should be used. A firearm under the Firearms Act 1968 means:- A lethal barrelled weapon of any description From which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged and includes:- 1. Any “prohibited weapon”, whether lethal barrelled or not 2. Any relevant “component part” of such lethal or prohibited weapon 3. Any “accessory” to such weapons which are designed or adapted to diminish the sound or flash caused by firing the weapon. The word ‘lethal’ refers to the fact that the weapon must be of a type that is capable of causing death or serious injury and not merely a toy. The weapon must also have a barrel and be capable of discharging some form of missile. Improvised firearms, also known as “slam guns” or “one pop stops” are becoming more common. They can be made out of table legs, piping etc. and over the last few years recoveries of such weapons have occurred throughout Scotland (see Police Scotland intranet - Health and Safety Alert for further details). 6 General Police Duties OFFICIAL  OFFICIAL Unit 7 Lesson 1.1 Firearms - Considerations and Explanations Definition of Ammunition Ammunition means:- any ammunition for any firearm and includes; grenades, bombs and other like missiles; whether capable of use with a firearm or not Activity 1 A1 We previously mentioned certain individuals within the community have firearms legally or illegally. The vast majority of people, including police officers, have never handled, let alone used, a firearm. Take a few minutes to think about what would be considered a firearm. Rifles and Shotguns Rifles - Section 1 Firearms Act 1968 Rifles are high powered, high velocity weapons which are incredibly accurate over long distances. You may find that rifles look very similar to one another. The difference will be found in the calibre (internal diameter of the barrel) of the weapon. The word rifle refers to the "rifling" in the barrel. This is the spiral groove cut into the metal. This groove spins the bullet as it travels along the barrel, stabilising it to improve accuracy. Where the 7 General Police Duties OFFICIAL  OFFICIAL Unit 7 Lesson 1.1 Firearms - Considerations and Explanations relative sizes of shotguns are measured by bore or gauge, the size of a rifle is indicated by its calibre - the diameter of the bullet it fires. Example:- A rifle with a calibre of.22 fires a bullet which is.22 of an inch in diameter. Feedback 1 F1 There are many examples of firearms. Here are a few:- PAVA Shotgun Silencer Rifle Air Weapon Handgun Submachine gun Starting Pistol Sawn-off shotgun As you work your way through the lessons, you will see that there are many more examples. 8 General Police Duties OFFICIAL  OFFICIAL Unit 7 Lesson 1.1 Firearms - Considerations and Explanations Shotguns - Section 2 Firearms Act 1968 Definition A shotgun is a smooth bore gun, not being an air weapon, which; Has a barrel length not less than 24 inches in length. A barrel bore not exceeding 2 inches in diameter. Must not have a magazine capable of holding more than two cartridges. “NOT LESS THAN 24 INCHES, NOT MORE THAN 2 INCHES, NOT MORE THAN 2 CARTRIDGES.” Modern sporting shotguns come in three basic forms:- 1. Single barrel pump or semi-automatic - These guns use mechanical means to load a cartridge ready to fire. They are allowed to hold up to three cartridges at any time (two in the magazine, one ready to fire). Those capable of firing more than three shots are subject to much stricter controls. 2. Double-barrel side-by-side - This gun is viewed as the traditional "game gun". One shot can be fired from each barrel before reloading. 3. Double-barrel over-and-under - This is a more modern barrel configuration, the most common type of shotgun in use. Note:- 2 & 3 will never have a magazine 9 General Police Duties OFFICIAL  OFFICIAL Unit 7 Lesson 1.1 Firearms - Considerations and Explanations Shotguns come in a variety of sizes; classified by the ‘bore’ or ‘gauge’. This is a measurement of the diameter of the barrel. Definition of Air Weapon An Air Weapon under Section 1 of the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 means:- An air weapon, that is to say, an air rifle, air gun or air pistol which does not fall within Section 5(1) of the Firearms Act 1968, and 1. The component parts of an air weapon. 2. Any accessories to such a weapon designed or adapted to diminish the noise caused by discharging the weapon. Note:- The air weapon must not discharge a missile with a kinetic energy (the energy of mass in motion i.e. power of the weapon) of above 12ft per pound (lb) of pressure for an air rifle, or 6ft per pound (lb) for an air pistol You will only find this information if the weapon is ballistically examined it will not say it on the weapon itself. Component Parts and Accessories Component Parts A relevant component part of a firearm is basically any part of the firearm which is essential for firing the weapon. Relevant component parts are included for the obvious reason that various parts could be carried individually, without any control, and later assembled into a working lethal weapon. The diagram indicates various component parts but not all of theses would be described as relevant component parts. 10 General Police Duties OFFICIAL  OFFICIAL Unit 7 Lesson 1.1 Firearms - Considerations and Explanations Note:- Component parts will be different for different types of firearms, if unsure advice should be sought from a qualified officer. Accessories Not all firearm accessories are included within the interpretation of a firearm. A telescopic sight is an example of an accessory but it is not controlled by the act. Only accessories designed or adapted to diminish the sound or flash caused when firing the weapon are included as these are devices which could be used in a criminal context and should therefore be classed as a firearm. Flash Eliminators Sound Eliminators/Silencers Prohibited Weapons - Section 5(1) Firearms Act 1968 If we think of firearms as being an umbrella term (Appendix A) then they can be split into firearms which the public are allowed to have, by applying for the relative firearms/shotguns certificates or licences and those which are deemed too dangerous or could easily be used for criminal activities and are therefore deemed by the Secretary of State as PROHIBITED weapons (or ‘firearms’). Thus making their possession an offence as a certificate or licence is generally unattainable. These weapons include the following:- 1. All firearms designed or adapted for continuous fire. Example:- machine guns, sub-machine guns and burst fire weapons. Even when these weapons have been converted back to single shot operation they are still prohibited. 2. Most rifles which are capable of rapid fire. 11 General Police Duties OFFICIAL  OFFICIAL Unit 7 Lesson 1.1 Firearms - Considerations and Explanations Example:- assault rifles, pump action rifles, with the exception of those of.22 calibre. 3. Most shotguns capable of rapid fire whose overall size makes them easy to conceal on the person. Example:- sawn off shotguns, rapid fire shotguns. 4. Any firearm, which is disguised as another object. Example:- umbrella guns, pen pistols, puzzle guns and walking stick shotguns. 5. Any rocket launcher or other projecting apparatus for use with explosive rockets for military use. 6. Any air weapons that use the self-contained gas cartridge system, which are vulnerable to conversion. This section adds these weapons to Section 5(1) of the Firearms Act 1968 making them prohibited weapons. 7. Any firearm which has a barrel length of less than 30 cm or an overall length of less than 60 cm. This does not apply to most air weapons or “paintball guns”. 8. Any other weapons of any description designed or adapted, to discharge noxious liquids, gasses, or other things. Example:- PAVA, CS, tear gas aerosols, tranquiliser guns and electrical stun guns. However, cattle prods or objects such as squeezy bottles filled with noxious liquid are not prohibited weapons since these are not designed or adapted as weapons. Note:- Despite having been prohibited since the introduction of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997, weapons such as revolvers and 12 General Police Duties OFFICIAL  OFFICIAL Unit 7 Lesson 1.1 Firearms - Considerations and Explanations pistols can still be acquired by the criminal fraternity through a variety of means. Firearms Certificates As we have already established, firearm ownership is tightly controlled in Scotland. With this in mind, there is specific legislation which regulates the control of the granting of certificates. There are three types of certificate you may be involved in:- 1. Firearms 2. Shotgun 3. Air Weapon certificates. The police have wide discretion in considering applications for these certificates. The certificates can contain very specific information regarding the permissions made to the holder, such as identification numbers of guns, descriptions of guns and the number of guns allowed. You shall be given an input in firearms licensing and certification at Divisional Training level if it is deemed to be appropriate to your area of operational responsibility. All geographical divisions have specific Firearms Licensing Officers, therefore if you are asked to carry out a licence enquiry or attend land to see if it is suitable for certain types of firearms - please direct such enquiries to appropriately trained individuals or departments. 13 General Police Duties OFFICIAL  Unit 7 Lesson 1.1 Firearms - Considerations and Explanations Appendix A FIREARMS OFFICIAL Legal firearms (with licence & Prohibited Weapons (NOT ALLOWED) (ONLY certificate) GRANTED USE BY SECRETARY OF STATE) 14 SECTION 1 FIREARMS SECTION 5 (1) - OFFICIAL RIFLES Prohibited weapons 1-8 General Police Duties Continuous fire SECTION 2 FIREARMS Rapid Fire SHOT GUNS Disguised as other object AIR WEAPONS AND LICENSING Rocket Launcher/Projecting apparatus (SCOTLAND) ACT 2015 Air weapon (Self Contained gas cartridge) AIR PISTOL, AIR RIFLE ETC. Barrel Length of 30cm & over length not exceeding 60cm Weapons/objects design to discharge noxious liquids, gases or other  OFFICIAL Unit 7 Lesson 1.1 Firearms - Considerations and Explanations Review: You can explain the safety precautions, which must be complied with when handling firearms You can state the definitions for firearms and ammunition You can describe shotguns, air weapons and rifles You can explain the relevance of component parts of firearms and firearms accessories You can state the type of weapons which are classed as prohibited weapons Learning Log: How will what you have learned in this module impact your day-to- day role? Are there any skills or knowledge you would like to develop further following this module? End of Module 15 General Police Duties OFFICIAL  OFFICIAL Unit 7 Lesson 1.1 Firearms - Considerations and Explanations 16 General Police Duties OFFICIAL