This was in force for Policemen operating the Firearms Acts at the time period of Hamilton's Firearms Certificates and the Dunblane Massacre.
Johnny <johnny@dvc.org.uk>
Grant or Refusal
6.6 The most important duty imposed by the Act on the police is that of
deciding whether or not a firearm certificate should be granted. The
criteria which chief officers of police should apply in exercising
discretion are set out in section 27(1). A chief officer of police must
not grant a certificate to any person whom he has reason to believe to be:
(a) prohibited by the Act from possessing a firearm, eg a person
to whom section 21 applies; or
(b) of intemperate habits or unsound mind; or
(c) to be for any reason unfitted to be entrusted with a firearm.
6.7 If the grant of the certificate is not so precluded, the chief
officer of police has to satisfy himself on two points: that the applicant
(a) has a good reason for requiring the firearm or ammunition in
respect of which the application is made; and
(b) can be permitted to have the firearm or ammunition without
danger to the public safety or to the peace.
Forces will normally be expected to give reasons for their decision to
refuse an application for a firearm certificate.