Aquiring a gun licence in the uk?

I don't think you can legally own a handgun in the UK anymore after the law was changed due to handgun-related murders, you can own a shotgun licence at 16 and a gun licence at 17, but you can't own a pistol (strange considering you can own shotguns and rifles). To own a gun you have to get a licence by filling in a form (which you can get from a police station) however if the police believe you don't have a need for a gun licence (e.g. you're not a member of a shooting club) then they can and probably will revoke your licence, this is to reduce the levels of gun-crime which have increased in the past 50-odd years