The bulletin presents information on the issue of firearm and shotgun certificates under the Firearms Act 1968 to 1997. At the end of 1998, 131,900 firearm certificates were on issue, a decrease of 1 percent from the figure at the end of 1997. The certificates on issue covered 295,100 firearms, a decrease of 3 percent from those covered in 1997. The number of shotgun certificates on issue at the end of 1998 was 627,600, 1 percent more than at the end of 1997. The certificates covered 1,343,400 shotguns, approximately the same as covered in 1997. Two percent of applications for new firearm and shotgun certificates made during 1998 were refused, much the same as in 1997. The number of registered firearms dealers was 2,180 at the end of 1998, 9 percent fewer than in 1997. The number of recorded crimes in which firearms were reported to have been used rose 10 percent. If air weapons are excluded, the rise was 3 percent. Figures, tables, notes, appendix