A serving Police Scotland officer named Alan Sharp has admitted to serious breaches involving firearms after he took seized shotguns to his home instead of destroying them. The 52-year-old faces at least five years in prison following his guilty plea in Glasgow High Court on charges under the Firearms Act and neglect of duty.
Alan Sharp’s Role in Firearms Licensing
Alan Sharp joined Police Scotland in 2001 and became a qualified Firearms Enquiry Officer in 2015. By late 2020, he transferred to the Firearms and Explosive Licensing Unit in Perth, where he handled applications for gun certificates, renewals, and the seizure of surrendered weapons.
His position required strict adherence to protocols for storing and disposing of firearms to prevent any risk to public safety. Sharp also held his own shotgun certificate, which added to the scrutiny when issues arose.
In this role, officers like Sharp play a key part in maintaining Scotland’s tight gun control laws, which aim to reduce incidents of firearm misuse. Recent data shows that Police Scotland processes thousands of licensing applications each year, with rigorous checks to ensure only suitable individuals receive approval.
The Surrendered Weapons and What Happened
The troubles began in January 2021 when a man turned in a sports bag containing rifle components and two firearm barrels at Kinross Police Station under a government surrender scheme. Sharp accepted these items but failed to properly log or destroy them.
Later that November, another elderly man chose not to renew his shotgun license and handed over six shotguns to Sharp at his home. Sharp assured the man the weapons would go to a safe holding area before transport to Glasgow for destruction. He even emailed the licensing unit with details, including serial numbers, to suggest everything was in order.
However, instead of following procedure, Sharp stored the six shotguns in a secure cabinet at his Fife home. The weapons were later found in working condition during a search. Additionally, 1,919 bullets across 17 different calibers were seized from his property.
This incident highlights a breakdown in the chain of custody for surrendered firearms, which are meant to be immediately secured or destroyed to avoid any potential harm.
Investigation Uncovers Broader Issues
An internal probe started in July 2022 after concerns surfaced that Sharp was skipping mandatory reference checks for gun applications. The investigation revealed he had not contacted referees on 75 occasions, often citing work stress and time pressures as reasons.
Sharp argued that checks were unnecessary if he knew the applicants or referees personally, or if there were no changes in their details. He also falsely entered data to show checks had been completed, misleading the system.
During the home search, officers found the rifle parts in a garage on top of a washing machine and the barrels nearby. Police records incorrectly listed all these items as destroyed, despite Sharp not inputting the data himself.
Sharp claimed he received instructions not to store firearms at Kinross station and lacked time to move them before annual leave. These explanations did little to mitigate the findings of negligence.
To illustrate the scope of the lapses, here is a breakdown of key items seized:
- Six shotguns from November 2021 surrender
- Rifle components and two firearm barrels from January 2021
- 1,919 bullets in various calibers
Court Proceedings and Potential Sentence
At Glasgow High Court, Sharp pled guilty to three charges under the Firearms Act for improper possession and handling of firearms, plus one count of wilful neglect of police duty. The offenses occurred between December 2021 and August 2022.
Judge Lord Armstrong remanded Sharp in custody, warning of a minimum five-year jail term due to the gravity of the breaches. The case adjourned until next month in Edinburgh for sentencing.
This development comes amid ongoing efforts in Scotland to strengthen firearms oversight, following high-profile incidents like the 2010 Cumbria shootings that prompted UK-wide reforms. Police Scotland has emphasized robust checks, but cases like this raise questions about internal compliance.
The following table outlines a timeline of events in the Alan Sharp case:
| Date | Event Description |
|---|---|
| January 2021 | Man surrenders rifle parts and barrels at Kinross station. |
| November 2021 | Sharp seizes six shotguns from elderly man’s home. |
| July 2022 | Internal investigation launches over skipped checks. |
| August 2022 | Home search uncovers weapons and ammunition. |
| November 2025 | Sharp pleads guilty in Glasgow High Court. |
Implications for Public Trust and Gun Safety
This scandal erodes confidence in those tasked with enforcing gun laws, especially in a nation with one of Europe’s lowest firearm ownership rates per capita. Scotland reports fewer than 50 gun homicides annually, thanks to stringent regulations, but lapses like Sharp’s could undermine these gains.
Experts note that similar issues have surfaced in other forces, prompting calls for better training and oversight. For instance, a 2023 review by Police Scotland introduced new statutory guidance for licensing to enhance public safety checks.
Residents in Fife and Perthshire, where Sharp worked, may now question the handling of local surrenders. Broader reforms could include digital tracking systems to prevent such unauthorized removals.
The case also ties into recent trends, like increased weapon surrenders during amnesty periods, which saw over 5,000 firearms handed in nationwide in 2024 alone. Ensuring these are properly managed remains crucial.
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