TVP issue second highest number of shotgun permits in country

The force issues 109 firearm dealer certificates, and also issued the second highest number of shotgun licences and individual firearm certificates in the country.
Only Devon and Cornwall police handed out more of both.
The statistics were published by the Home Office this week.
Thames Valley Police approved 27,618 applications for shotgun licences between March 2011 and March 2012, and revoked 84 certificates during the same time period.
A statement released by the Home Office said the numbers were not unexpected as the police forces with the highest number of shotguns per head of population reflected the larger rural nature of the areas.
The force also issued 792 visitor shotgun permits, which mean the applicant can use the weapon without holding a certificate, for any period under 12 months.
The hike in dealer licences was said to be due to the tightening of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, which required businesses selling air weapons to register with the police as firearm dealers.
Firearm certificates are issued for weapons covered by section 1 of the 1968 Firearms Act, including rifles, muzzle-loading revolvers and shotguns with magazines that are capable of holding more than two cartridges.
Shotgun certificates, covered by section 2 of the 1968 Act and section 2 of the 1988 Act, permit the holder to possess any number of shotguns.
These can include pump-action and self-loading weapons that have a magazine that is incapable of holding more than two cartridges, but excludes large magazine smooth-bore guns.