Licence fees – ACPO calls for 88% rise in cost

A rise of up to 88 per cent in licensing fees for shotgun and firearms certificate holders has been proposed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

The increases are outlined in a briefing paper prepared for the Home Office by ACPO?s Firearms and Explosives Licensing Working Group. If the proposals are accepted, they would increase the cost of obtaining a firearm or shotgun certificate from £50 to £93.80 ? a rise of 88 per cent. Standard certificate renewals would rise from £40 to £66, an increase of 65 per cent. Additionally, ACPO is proposing the introduction of new charges for licensing clayshoots and other purposes. The increases are based on the concept of ?full cost recovery? from the licence holder, despite the fact that licensing of firearms is currently carried out partially at the public expense in order to reflect the fact that licensing is for the public?s, not the shooting community?s, benefit.

The rest of this article appears in the 21st December issue of Shooting Times.

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