Question
What is the PSNI policy or arrangements in relation to “guns for destruction” and is the CC content that the arrangements that are in place, including storage facilities, are sustainable?
Answer
Police Service of Northern Ireland Service Instruction SI2417- Property, Section 10, relates to arrangements for the seizure, retention and disposal of firearms, ammunition, explosives and pyrotechnics.
Firearms for destruction include legally held firearms which are no longer required by the holders of firearms certificates and have been surrendered and illegally held firearms, those not held on a valid firearms certificate, recovered in the course of investigations. Police Service of Northern Ireland have procedures in place to ensure all firearms are examined and recorded by trained Police Service of Northern Ireland Scientists, prior to destruction. This includes a check with the open case file to ensure any such firearm has not been used in a previous firearms incident in Northern Ireland. Such firearms are held centrally in Weapon Control.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland have adequate and sustainable storage facilities to deal with controlled volumes, which we receive for examination, processing and destruction. Storage facilities for these firearms are inspected and approved by Estate Services Branch.
Mike Nesbitt - UUP