The Firearms Rules 1998

Referees: firearm certificates

4.—(1) The information referred to in rule 3(2) above shall be verified by the signed statement of each of the persons nominated as a referee by the applicant pursuant to rule 3(3)(a) above that the information is, to the best of his knowledge and belief, correct.

(2) An application for a firearm certificate shall not be considered by a chief officer of police until he receives from each referee nominated by the applicant pursuant to rule 3(3)(a) above and who satisfy the requirements of paragraph (3) below a completed reference in the form set out in Part III of Schedule 1 containing a statement to the effect that he knows of no reason why the applicant should not be permitted to possess a firearm.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4) below, to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph a person must not be a member of the applicant’s family, a serving police officer or police employee or a registered firearms dealer, and must—

(a) be resident in Great Britain;

(b) have known the applicant personally for at least two years; and

(c) be of good character.

(4) Where the chief officer of police is satisfied pursuant to section 44 of the 1997 Act that the application is for renewal of a firearm certificate in relation to a rifle or muzzle-loading pistol for use only for target shooting, the requirements of paragraph (3) above shall be varied so that one of the referees must be an official of the approved rifle or muzzle-loading pistol club specified in the application who may be a registered firearms dealer and need not have known the applicant personally for at least two years. The other referee must satisfy the requirements of paragraph (3) above and must not be a member of any target shooting club.