Point and shoot your way to a gun licence

The Queensland Police Services (QPS) intends to launch an online weapons licensing system by the end of 2010, which will allow members of the public to apply for and renew a weapons licence online.  

The proposed system, funded as part of the $50.2 million allocated to QPS in the Queensland State budget last month, will enable users to apply for a weapons permit and support online payments.

The QPS expects the online system to free up resources by automating the process of issuing licences and maintenance of records. 

The current paper-based system requires applicants and licence holders to attend a police station to lodge applications wherein information is manually entered onto systems. 

All first-time applicants will still, however, be required to attend a personal interview at their local police station for verification of identity and supporting documentation.

Two stage rollout proposed

The replacement of the ageing manual-based systems, which are backed by a mainframe database and four ancillary applications, will be rolled out in a two-stage process. 

Stage One includes online-based applications and renewal for a weapons licence, plus integration with other key QPS systems including the Policelink Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution and the Queensland Police Records and Information Management Exchange (QPRIME) system.  This integration will allow police officers to monitor any disqualifying activity by weapons licence holders.

Stage Two proposes to introduce user-based license management functionality including the ability for licence holders to "view weapons license details and initiate requests for updates or changes to the information," the QPS said in a statement.

"This will include the ability for dealers to report transactions and shooting clubs to report member activities online."

A spokesman for QPS said that stage one of the new online system was to go-live by the end of 2010, whilst stage two is "forecast to be completed during 2011".