Gun licensing: Partners to be quizzed in new screening

Gwent Police said its firearms licensing officers were trained to risk assess scenarios which may raise red flags about an applicant.

It said partners were interviewed alone, either in person or in vision remotely, to make sure their answers were as truthful as possible.

Even when there was a risk someone may not be able to be honest due to their domestic circumstances, the force said it opened an avenue of communication with police they may feel able to use in the future.

Rhianon Bragg, 51, was held overnight in August 2019 by her former partner, who began stalking her when she ended the five-year relationship. She has helped police design the questionnaire.

She said: “If Titanium was in existence at the time and I’d been asked the questions, even though I didn’t realise I was in an abusive relationship, the way the questions have been formulated may have started a thought process with me, thinking hang on I’m experiencing this – but it would absolutely have rung alarm bells for any officer that I was speaking to.

“Despite everything I’ve experienced I’m not anti-shooting. This is absolutely about having people who are responsible gun owners, responsible with their weapons and how they use them, who realise it is a privilege.”