RESTRICTIONS will be brought in to improve oversight of weapons in Jersey, the Home Affairs Minister has confirmed after it emerged that there are more than 8,200 firearms in the Island.
Deputy Mary Le Hegarat said that plans for a full review of the Island’s firearms law remain on hold.
But she told a Scrutiny panel yesterday that a package of short-term measures would be put in place using existing powers to make changes to the way firearms are licensed.
These measures do not require new legislation to be passed but can be implemented through changes to regulations known as “ministerial orders”.
One of the main changes is that applicants for a firearms certificate, which people must obtain before purchasing any gun or ammunition, will no longer automatically be granted permission to store ammunition at home.
Instead, they will have to make a separate request, which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
“When issuing a firearm certificate, it should be authorised without ammunition being included,” Deputy Le Hegarat told the Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel during a quarterly hearing.
“The applicant would then need to apply separately if they wished to hold ammunition at their home address.”
Recent statistics revealed that there are more than 8,200 legal firearms across Jersey, which works out as one gun for every 12 people.
The figures were revealed in a request for information made under the Freedom of Information Law which was published last month.
It also revealed that many Islanders own multiple weapons, with only 1,096 firearms certificates having been issued.
Deputy Le Hegarat said that the system of “wish lists” – where certificate holders request permission for multiple firearms in advance – would now be more closely scrutinised.
“There are currently examples of certificate holders who have the authority to purchase or acquire in excess of 25 firearms,” she said.
“As these certificates are submitted for renewal or for a variation, the Constables will review these and make the recommended amendments.”
Parish Constables are responsible for issuing gun licences.
Deputy Le Hegarat explained this was part of ensuring “greater governance of the number of firearms being held and assist the Constables to ensure that the applicants have a good reason to acquire those firearms”.
The government is also looking at whether certain types of high-calibre rifles, particularly those converted from military-grade automatic weapons, should be added to the list of prohibited items.
Deputy Le Hegarat said: “This will not preclude an applicant from applying for possession of them. However, it will require a separate licence from the minister, which will give greater governance on these types of firearms.”
She said: “The working group will also be recommending the possibility that all references for applicants must either be a firearms certificate holder or have a good knowledge and experience in handling firearms and ammunition in order to be able to provide information on the applicant’s competence.”
The aim is to “assist the Constables on getting a better understanding of the certificate holders, knowledge and experience”, she said.
A further proposal under review is to carry out mid-point checks during the five-year lifespan of a certificate, to ask holders whether they are still actively using their weapons and whether continued possession remains justified.
Deputy Le Hegarat added: “What can happen is, is that people acquire firearms today, and in 20 years time, still have those firearms, because people probably don’t relinquish them, as you know, and they’ll just continue to renew them every five years.”
The minister suggested this would “depend” on how burdensome it would be for Constables.
The full review of Jersey’s firearms law – originally proposed by previous Home Affairs Minister Helen Miles in 2024 – was delayed due to legislative priorities elsewhere, particularly the development of new laws focused on addressing violence against women and girls.
In the meantime, Deputy Le Hegarat said these interim measures addressed “the majority of the concerns”.
Police checks on visiting shooters attending competitions will continue, and a firearms amnesty – which would allow people to hand in unlicensed or unwanted weapons – is also under consideration, subject to advice from the Attorney General.
