Ex-police chief: Widen gun ownership consultation

The UK government should consider asking relatives, neighbours and workmates whether people are fit to hold a gun licence following the Cumbria shootings, the former head of Scotland Yard said.

Sir Ian Blair said policy-makers could spread the net of people consulted on the suitability of those who want to own lethal weapons. The retired senior officer said seeking the approval of doctors, firearms officers and magistrates is "rather limited".

His comments came as it emerged that Derrick Bird was a licensed shotgun owner with a previous criminal conviction. The taxi driver, who was convicted of theft in the 1990s, acquired the licence in 1995 and had also held a firearms licence for a .22 rifle since 2007.

Police confirmed these licences covered the two weapons recovered after 12 people died in the mass shootings on Wednesday. According to Home Office guidance, Mr Bird's conviction for theft would only have to be "considered" and would not prohibit him entirely from possessing a firearm.

The Criminal Justice Act sets out restrictions on the possession of firearms by people with criminal convictions, stating that those jailed for three years or more are never allowed to possess firearms, and those sentenced to between three months and three years must not possess firearms until five years after their release date. However, there has been no suggestion that Mr Bird served any time in prison.

Sir Ian said the possession of a firearm is a "privilege" and those who have them should be prepared to give up some privacy. In an article posted on The Guardian website, Sir Ian suggested that licences should be reviewed and more questions asked the longer they are held.

Sir Ian compared firearms licences to driving licences, which are reviewed when motorists turn 70. He said: "I think the people of Cumbria will wonder too as to whether that privilege should require the giving up of some privacy in order to continue to have access to an object which, unlike a car, is designed and treasured solely for its lethality."

Sir Ian said calls for further changes to firearms laws are a "completely understandable desire" to prevent such a tragedy occurring again. He said: "I am sure the Home Office will wish to look again at the relevant legislation. The difficulty is that, following earlier horrors, Britain already has some of the tightest controls on gun ownership in the world."

Licence holders have to provide reports from their doctor, disclose any criminal convictions and state why they want a gun. There are applications to complete and interviews with the police or firearms licensing authority before a weapon can be acquired, and the process takes eight weeks on average to complete.

Despite the length of the procedure, nearly 600,000 people in the UK legally own a shotgun and just over 100,000 own other firearms. Politicians said changes to gun laws should not be rushed in. Prime Minister David Cameron cautioned against "knee-jerk" demands for a toughening of the laws, while Home Secretary Theresa May said the Government would "consider all the options" - but not until the full facts of the case are known.