Fighting for Firearms

Last year alone, BASC’s specialist firearms team handled 8,537 member enquiries. The pace hasn’t slowed in 2025. Each week, hundreds of members seek support with firearms applications and clarifications, with the team resolving issues swiftly and effectively.

Certificate Holder Numbers Continue to Drop

According to Home Office statistics, there’s been a 3% fall in shotgun and firearm certificate holders since 2024. The number of shotgun certificates in England and Wales dipped below half a million in 2023 and continues to decline in 2025.

Training Initiatives Bring Hope

Some progress is evident. A mandatory College of Policing training course for firearms licensing staff is being rolled out, supported by a one-day firearms awareness session from the British Shooting Sports Council.

Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson confirmed in January that Deputy Chief Constable David Gardner is developing a national performance framework. This would hold forces accountable for turnaround times on certificate applications, aiming for a four-month target unless suitability issues arise.

Are Forces Meeting the Mark?

The first quarterly performance table, published in May, shows mixed results. While some forces meet targets, others lag behind. How these statistics were compiled remains unclear. Continued scrutiny is vital to ensure forces invest certificate fee revenue back into licensing efficiency.

Deregulation of Sound Moderators May Ease Workload

Should sound moderators be deregulated, police workloads could ease considerably. For over a decade, around a third of the 600,000 firearms in England and Wales listed on certificates were sound moderators.

Scotland Leads the Way

In Scotland, over 97% of certificate renewals are processed within 16 weeks. Compare that with some forces in England and Wales – Bedfordshire (39%), Cambridge (32%), and Hertfordshire (35%) – and the disparity is glaring.

As of March 2025, Scotland maintained stable numbers: 43,790 shotgun, 31,598 airgun, and 25,223 firearm certificates. Meanwhile, England and Wales have seen firearm certificates drop from 156,033 in 2021 to 145,306, and shotgun certificates from 548,521 to 482,612.

Time for Serious Reform

BASC has produced a detailed report on force-by-force performance, showing just how overdue a full reform is in England and Wales. The organisation remains at the forefront, challenging bureaucratic inefficiencies and illogical legislation that threatens lawful gun ownership.

Dr Conor O’Gorman has over 25 years of experience in conservation and land management and is passionate about wild grey partridges. Contact him at conor.ogorman@basc.org.uk.