FOI 364-2025 / Mar 2025 / Firearms
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 364-2025
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 25th March 2025 as follows:
- The number of instances in which holders of a firearm or shotgun certificate have refused to surrender their firearm(s) and/or shotgun(s) when voluntarily requested to do so by your constabulary.
- In relation to (1), the subsequent action taken by your constabulary in each instance.
- The number of instances in which your constabulary has had to force entry (either with a warrant or under existing statutory powers) into the dwelling of a firearm or shotgun holder.
- The number of instances in which your constabulary has had to force entry (either with a warrant or under existing statutory powers) to a dwelling where it was suspected (reasonably or otherwise) that illegal firearms were present.
We would appreciate data covering the longest period for which records are available. If the information is not available in the format requested, we would be grateful if you could provide any relevant alternative data.
Please find the Warwickshire Police response set out below.
Response: Please be advised that the requested information is not centrally recorded and not available in a readily retrievable format. With regard to Q1 and Q2 of your request, in order to determine the number of holders of a firearm or shotgun certificate who have refused to surrender their firearm(s) and/or shotgun(s) when voluntarily requested to do by the force, and the subsequent action taken, it would be necessary to review each and every licence holder on record on an individual basis. This would require scrutinising not only each current licence holder (of which there are over 8000) but also researching records to determine any individuals who no longer hold a licence, and reviewing their information also.
Further, with regard to Q3 and Q4 of your request, in order to determine whether such information is held it would require scrutinising information relating to all firearm deployments. Since 2014 there have been over 3000 such records and it would be necessary to review each and every one on an individual basis to ascertain whether information is recorded which falls within the remit of the request.
For the reasons set out above, such searches would take an inordinate amount of time and would be above the amount to which we are legally required to respond ie, the work involved in locating, retrieving and recording the information requested far exceeds the cost threshold (£450), which equates to 18 hours work at a standard rate of £25 per hour, as stated in the Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit) Regulations 2004.
In accordance s12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, this letter acts as a Refusal Notice for this request.
In accordance with Section 16 of the Act I have a duty to provide advice and assistance in relation to suggesting ways to revise your request where possible; however, due to the volume of records which would need to be reviewed, I am unable to suggest a way to revise your request into one which could be dealt with within the fees limit on this occasion.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is as accurate as possible.
Your attention is drawn to the below which details your right of complaint.
Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write or email the Freedom of Information Unit quoting the reference number above.
Yours sincerely
Freedom of Information Officer
Freedom of Information Unit
Warwickshire Police
PO Box 4
Leek Wootton
Warwickshire
CV35 7QB