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Developing big picture intelligence to identify the source of illegal firearms and ammunition
Minimising the misuse of firearms
Arquebus’ team are experienced in designing, delivering and maintaining projects which constitute the core building blocks that any jurisdiction wishing to make their society safer should consider implementing.
SCOPING MISSIONS
As states seek to enhance their security, Arquebus is able to use its extensive experience to support them in assessing the situation on the ground so that they can best leverage people, processes and technology to minimise the misuse of small arms and light weapons (SALW).
Via a dedicated Scoping Mission, experts from Arquebus can assess the wider security milieu, in addition to the people, processes and technology which shape the security environment within a jurisdiction. This might include assessing current standards and practices, identifying gaps in laboratory processes, equipment needs, and training, as well as analysing the interactions with relevant stakeholders such as intelligence officers, investigators, and prosecutors. Following each Scoping Mission, Arquebus produces a comprehensive report detailing areas of development along with key recommendations that can be used to drive change.
Donors seeking to support beneficiaries are also able to use this unique service in order to define areas for improvement that could benefit from international development funding. For more information regarding the broader assessment of SALW capabilities, please contact us.
FIREARMS LICENSING AND REGISTRATION
A vital element of the SALW control strategy is the capability to catalogue and inventory the firearms in civilian and state use.
It is recognised good practice that civilian, private sector, and state firearms should be recorded within a digital firearms registry.
Based on our extensive experience operating in over 50 countries globally, Arquebus understands that by managing the lifecycle of SALW from declaration to destruction via registration and managing the identities of associated SALW users through licencing, the ‘leakage’ of weapons onto the illicit circuit and into the hands of criminals, terrorists and organised crime groups can be understood and countered.
Please get in touch to discuss how Arquebus can assess your current capabilities and implement SALW licencing and registration solutions which are tailored to your specific security needs, from private armouries to national SALW registries.
FIREARMS AMNESTY & DESTRUCTION
A common phase of many effective SALW control programmes is the delivery of a national amnesty to both collect SALW and publicly destroy them. The removal of unwanted SALW from society is a major step forward in the development of a state through increased security and stabilisation.
It is suggested that the delivery of a national firearms amnesty would require the operation of a number of amnesty facilities where firearms can be handed back to the state. Each item will then need to be recorded before it is securely stored and subsequently destroyed. Raw materials collected from the processing of SALW could be used in community projects or public infrastructure construction to further enhance the positive outcomes related to SALW destruction. Environmental considerations should also be considered.
It goes without saying that the type and nature of any amnesty will be dependent upon the particular set of circumstances that exist in the environment concerned, and in particular the number of unregistered firearms in circulation. Please get in touch with the Arquebus team to discuss the design, planning and execution of firearms amnesty and destruction programmes.
LEGISLATION REVIEW
In addition to important regional and international SALW instruments such as the EU Firearms Directive and the UN Firearms Protocol, national legislation plays a significant role in shaping the SALW security context.
An important element of any cohesive SALW control strategy is to ensure that the existing national legislation in place is comprehensive and contemporary, thereby providing a robust framework to govern the legal possession and supply of firearms.
Appropriate legislation allows responsible persons to have access to firearms for legitimate purposes whilst imposing appropriate penalties for illegal possession and activity. Although a review of existing legislation would commonly take place as part of a Scoping Mission, where any necessary changes would be highlighted for consideration, Arquebus can offer standalone legislative review as part of its SALW control services.
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FIREARMS FOCAL POINTS
Download PDF on Firearms Focal Points for more information or get in touch.