Mauritius - Saferworld

Mauritius
Overview of
firearms
situation
THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED FIREARMS IN MAURITIUS is relatively low compared with
other countries in the region. There are only 6,279 registered firearms in Mauritius which have
been licensed to 4,243 persons. Mauritius does not have a military service but a paramilitary
force. Both the police and paramilitary forces’ firearms are registered with the police.
Historically Mauritius has not had an influx of firearms, legally or illegally. It is an island and has
only two ports of entry, which are well controlled.
The Mauritius Police Force has not experienced increased levels of violent crime involving
firearms, nor has there been an increase in smuggling activities concerning firearms on the island.
The police feel that transnational criminal organisations may in the future use the stability on the
island to conduct their activities by moving firearms from one conflict area to the other without
these firearms entering Mauritius.
The Central Firearm Registry falls under the control of the Crime Record Office. Crucially,
Mauritius has an electronic database. The database originates from India, appears to be well
maintained and up to date and is one of only four electronic databases operating in the SADC
region. The system is very basic but as a consequence it is simple to operate and maintain. Every
transaction involving a firearm is recorded on the database. These include the following applications:
finger printing, issuing of permits or licences, any inquiries, personal information and
information on firearms (both those destroyed and those still in state or civilian possession).
Overview of
legislation
The bulk of firearms controls In Mauritius are currently contained in the ‘Firearms Act’, which
dates back to 1940, making it one of the oldest firearm control acts in the SADC region. This Act
stipulates that the following process must be followed when obtaining a firearm for civilian use:
• Firearm application to the Superintendent of Police in the district in which the applicant
resides. The form is called the Application for the Grant of a Firearm Licence and is contained
in Article 4(1) of the Firearms Act.
• A background check is done on the person, firstly by the district police in the area in which
the applicant resides, and secondly by the Crime Record Office.
• The applicant must then demonstrate, or undergo training to show, that he / she is competent
to handle the type of firearm he / she is applying for. The police armoury does this test and
training.
• Every stage of the licence process record is kept. The Crime Record Office must indicate that
they received an application and what the results of the fingerprints are. The armoury must indicate
by a report if the applicant can handle a firearm as applied for and the ‘enquiring inspector’
must complete a lengthy report on the character and background check on the applicant.