Our Ref: Date:

IM-FOI-2017-1619-1623 09 August 2017

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002 I refer to your recent requests for information which have been handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. For ease of reference, your requests are replicated below together with the responses. In relation to the national SHOGUN database on firearms licensing, and the field of “occupation” as a search term, I would like to ask for information on how many [categories replicated below] have firearms or shotgun certificates, numbers of weapons, if available per license or as a total. And types or specification of weapons if available (shotgun, rifle, other firearm) I would first of all advise you that the National SHOGUN database came into operation on 20 October 2014 and at that time, weapon types were broken down by approximately 1300 descriptors. Since then, this number has been reduced to 551, with work ongoing to reduce this number further to allow for a greater statistical understanding of weapon types held by certificate holders. SHOGUN does hold the occupation details of individual certificate holders. This however is relevant only to the information provided by the individual certificate holder. Thus, on an application, it may note the occupation simply as retired, retired [occupation] or just [occupation] even when no longer practising. There are also occasions where an occupation has not been provided, has changed during the life of a certificate or has not been uploaded to the system. Notwithstanding, searches have been carried out based on the parameters referenced in your requests and the results can be found below: 17-1619 - members of (or retired members of) the judiciary In reviewing SHOGUN, a search was undertaken on the listed occupations; Occupation Sheriff Judge

Cert. Holders 8 8

Certificate Type Firearm Shotgun Air Weapon 1 5 2 1 3 3

scotland.police.uk

@PoliceScotland

Firearms/ Shotguns Held 2 / 10 2/5

PoliceScotland

17-1620 - members of the legal profession (solicitor, lawyer, notary public, Advocate, QC or other member of the Law Society of Scotland & Faculty of Advocates In reviewing SHOGUN, a search was undertaken on the listed occupations (QC was searched fully as well as the acronym); Occupation Paralegal Legal Executive Barrister QC Advocate Notary Public Lawyer Solicitor Court Officer Magistrate Litigator

Cert. Holders

Firearm

0

0

4

0

6 8 18

Certificate Type

2

Firearms (Sound Moderator)/ Shotguns Held 0/5

2 2 7

9 (3) / 23 6 (2) / 31 9 (3) / 26

Shotgun

Air Weapon

0

0

3

0/0

2 2 4

4 8 13

40 199

12 51

25 146

18 60

55 (18) / 96 100 (31) / 393

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0/0 0/0

0 2

0 1

0 1

0

0/0

0

1/0

Taking the term ‘legal’ as a search provides 9 further records. These occupations include legal advisor, legal secretary and legal cashier. These have not been considered further. 17-1621 - employees of the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) SHOGUN does not hold the individual employer details related to an individual certificate holder. The application form 201 requires a work address and contact but work address details are not searchable on the SHOGUN system. In reviewing SHOGUN, a search was undertaken on the listed occupations; Occupation Procurator Fiscal Crown Office

Cert. Holders 2

Certificate Type Firearm Shotgun Air Weapon

0

scotland.police.uk

0

2

0

0

0

0

@PoliceScotland

Firearms/ Shotguns Held 0/3 0/0

PoliceScotland

17-1622 - employees of the Scottish Parliament and MSPs of the Scottish Parliament SHOGUN does not hold the individual employer details related to an individual certificate holder. The application form 201 requires a work address and contact but work address details are not searchable on the SHOGUN system. In reviewing SHOGUN, a search was undertaken on the listed occupations (MSP searched fully as well as the acronym); Occupation MSP Govt. Minister Member of Parliament Parliamentarian

Certificate Type 2 1

Air Weapon 1 0

Firearms (Sound Moderator)/ Shotguns Held 9(3) /2 4 0/3

1

0

0/8

Cert. Holders

Firearm

Shotgun

3

0

2

3 1 1

3 0 0

1

0/5

17-1623 - employees of the Scottish Government SHOGUN does not hold the individual employer details related to an individual certificate holder. The application form 201 requires a work address and contact but work address details are not searchable on the SHOGUN system. Searching occupations which include the word ‘government’ includes local government employees, government inspectors, government officers and investigators. The parameters of the search therefore cannot provide the details required. As such, in terms of Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, this represents a notice that the information you seek is not held by Police Scotland. Should you require any further assistance concerning this matter please contact Information Management - Dundee on 01382 596657 quoting the reference number given. If you are dissatisfied with the way in which your request has been dealt with, you are entitled in the first instance, and within 40 working days of receiving this response, to request a review of our actions and decisions. Should you wish to do so, please contact us at the following address, stating what has caused your dissatisfaction and what you require us to review: Information Management (Disclosure), Police Scotland, Clyde Gateway, 2 French Street, Dalmarnock, G40 4EH - [email protected] If you remain dissatisfied following the outcome of that review, you are thereafter entitled to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner within six months for a decision. You can raise an appeal using the online service at www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal or by writing to Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle, scotland.police.uk

@PoliceScotland

PoliceScotland

Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS, or via email at [email protected]. Should you wish to appeal against the Scottish Information Commissioner's decision, there is an appeal to the Court of Session on a point of law only.

scotland.police.uk

@PoliceScotland

PoliceScotland

Judicial Office for Scotland Strategy & Governance Rm-3/R12 Parliament House Parliament Square Edinburgh EH1 1RQ FOI 2017 261

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST I refer to your email dated 21 July 2017 in which you made the following request for information in terms of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. I would like to make a freedom of information request to find out the numbers of members of the judiciary who have notified either the Judicial Office or Scottish Court Service in the past five years or currently – ;they hold firearms licenses and or shotgun certificates, ;and if so, what numbers of weapons, types of weapons & ammunition allowed to hold or store. ;membership of any hunting or shooting clubs or associations, participation in hunting trips including deerstalking, shotgun related activities and “shoots” on estates (which estates or land) (the term shoots includes activities relating to shooting of pheasant & other wild birds/animals) The Judicial Office for Scotland, including the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service does not hold any information. Accordingly, your request is refused in terms of Section 17 of the Act as it is information not held. I hope you find this information of assistance. However should you feel dissatisfied with this response or the manner in which your request has been handled, the Act provides for a review process to be conducted. Should you wish to take advantage of this process you may apply in writing for a review. Your request should provide details of why you wish a review to be carried out and should be made within 40 working days of receipt of this letter to:-

www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk The Judicial Office for Scotland supports the Lord President in his responsibilities as head of the Scottish judiciary www.scotcourts.gov.uk The Scottish Court Service is responsible for the administration of Scottish courts, Tribunals and the Office of the Public Guardian

The Freedom of Information Officer Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service Saughton House Broomhouse Drive Edinburgh EH11 3XD [email protected] Following that review should you still feel dissatisfied, you have the right to lodge an appeal with the Scottish Information Commissioner either online: http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/YourRights/Unhappywiththeresponse/AppealingtoCom missioner.aspx or at the following address:Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner Kinburn Castle Doubledykes Road St. Andrews FIFE KY16 9DS Yours Sincerely

Mr R Gare Policy Manager Judicial Office for Scotland

www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk The Judicial Office for Scotland supports the Lord President in his responsibilities as head of the Scottish judiciary www.scotcourts.gov.uk The Scottish Court Service is responsible for the administration of Scottish courts, Tribunals and the Office of the Public Guardian