Clarke agrees new curbs on airgun sales

• Airgun restrictions to be introduced following killing of two-year old

• New laws will make weapons more difficult to buy for the criminally inclined

• Changes should be formally introduced in a fortnight

Key quote

"We are currently considering limiting air-gun sales in the UK to firearms dealers registered by the police, following discussions between Cathy Jamieson and the Home Office." - Home Office spokesman

Story in full

SWEEPING new regulations on the sale of air-guns are expected to be introduced throughout the UK after intense lobbying by the Scottish Executive, The Scotsman has learned.

Jack McConnell, the First Minister, held talks with Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, earlier this week on the timing of an announcement that would mean tough new licensing restrictions being imposed on all air-gun retailers.

Mr McConnell urged the Home Secretary to act following the death of Glasgow toddler Andrew Morton, who was killed by an air-gun pellet earlier this year. Although Mr Clarke has given his initial backing to the scheme, it is understood the Home Office still has some work to do on the feasibility of such a major change in gun law.

If, as expected, civil servants agree the plan is workable, it will be unveiled formally by both the Executive and the UK government within the next two weeks.

The new law would impose strict curbs on air-gun retailers, forcing them to obtain a police licence - like those for alcohol but much more restrictive - and to record the details of every gun sold and the details of every purchaser.

It is expected that firearms dealers will be the only retailers who will satisfy the tough new conditions, effectively stopping air-guns from being sold in more mainstream shops. There is also the possibility that the government might introduce a "cooling off" period, forcing customers to wait 24 hours or more between purchase and the handover of any weapon.

At this stage, it is not known whether BB (ball-bearing) guns or other such weapons would be covered by the regulations.

The changes would signal a major new approach by Tony Blair's government and bring the first major crackdown on the use of air weapons.

They would also represent a huge success for Mr McConnell and Cathy Jamieson, his justice minister, who have been lobbying Westminster for the past six months to change the law.

They have argued that air-guns are a major problem in Scotland but have had some difficulty persuading their Westminster counterparts to take action, particularly as real firearms and replica weapons appear to pose a much more immediate threat to society in England.

Mr McConnell was aware that firearms policy is reserved to Westminster and he could not introduce new powers unilaterally in Scotland.

So he and Ms Jamieson spent much of the summer trying to persuade the Home Office of the need for tough new curbs and it appears they have succeeded.

It is understood the government has agreed to include the licensing system in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill, which has already had its second reading in the Commons.

Ministers intend to bring forward an amendment on air-guns which will be tabled for the bill when it starts its committee stage next month.

A Home Office spokesman confirmed that ministers were considering the plan, but refused to say whether it had been formally accepted.

"We are currently considering limiting air-gun sales in the UK to firearms dealers registered by the police, following discussions between Cathy Jamieson and the Home Office," he said.

A senior Executive source was more forthright and said Mr McConnell was "extremely optimistic" that the Home Office would back the scheme and said the First Minister had discussed the timing of the announcement with the Home Secretary - an indication of Mr Clarke's determination to change the law.

The insider said the First Minister was "not worried at all" by proposals put forward by the SNP last week to introduce a licensing system for air-gun retailers, insisting that the government plans were "bigger, better and stronger" than the SNP proposals.

The violent crime bill already includes provisions to crack down on replica weapons with a ban on the manufacture, import and sale of realistic imitation guns and tougher sentences for those caught with replica guns in public.

Mr McConnell had hoped to announce the plans in his legislative statement, which he made on Tuesday, but the Home Office was not ready.

He hinted that a deal was imminent when he told MSPs: "The Home Office is in the final stages of considering our proposals and we expect to be able to announce details of new restrictions soon."