FIREARMS applicants in Oxfordshire will soon have to pay for their GP to fill in a special medical form, before police can consider granting them a licence.

Thames Valley Police announced today that it is changing its firearms licensing policy, introducing a 'pre-application medical screening.'

Currently applicants have to provide details of relevant medical conditions plus details of their GP practice, and the police then chase up details.

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From August 1, however, the force will demand a particular form that applicants must get their GPs to fill in.

The force said in a statement: "Guidance from the British Medical Association and Local Medical Committees is very clear that this type of work falls outside of the NHS remit and as such surgeries will request a fee from the applicant."

The form has been agreed between Thames Valley Police and the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Local Medical Committees (LMCs), and applicants will be able to download it from the force's website or directly from their GP.

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Thames Valley Police's assistant chief constable Tim De Meyer said: "The decision to change this policy was not taken lightly.

"However, the current medical arrangements in place may leave a substantial gap in the available information and intelligence assessed at the point of grant or renewal, and this has a direct impact on public safety.

"Although the Home Office is due to open its consultation on firearms in July 2019, given the difficulties in negotiating a nationally binding position and the complexity of it, then these discussions may take some time."

He said in the meantime, it is the force's responsibility to ensure the public's safety in the Thames Valley while providing a 'fair and efficient service to the shooting community.'

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Assistant chief constable De Meyer added: "The public should be reassured that when firearms and/or shotgun certificates are issued to individuals, that appropriate steps have been taken to ensure the person is fit to hold the certificate.

"Pre-application medical screening is pivotal to police decision-making."

The force said the new measures will 'mitigate risk as far as reasonably practicable' and will mean police will no longer have to contact the GP and await a reply.

The new form will be requested of all firearm and shotgun applications, including renewals, whether the person declares a medical condition or not.

The fact someone has a condition will not necessarily mean the application is refused, the force added, but a false declaration could result in prosecution.

From August 1, any applications received without the required medical information will be returned to the applicant.