- Latest news February 13, 2025
BASC has criticised the government’s decision to grant police automatic powers of entry into the homes of firearm certificate holders as unnecessary and an erosion of civil liberties.
The granting of automatic powers of entry for the police came as part of a government announcement made today, 13 February, in response to a 2023 firearms licensing consultation. At the time, the consultation sought views on recommendations made to the Home Office for changes to firearms licensing legislation and the systems/processes used.
The government’s proposal is for a power of entry where there are grounds for reviewing suitability, but the certificate holder is uncooperative with the police.
The proposal to grant such a power of entry was opposed by 80.7 per cent of respondents to the public consultation. The police currently have powers of entry to prevent crime and if life is in danger. They can also obtain a warrant from a magistrate and can revoke a person’s shotgun or firearm certificate, making their possession of guns illegal.
BASC’s director of firearms, Bill Harriman, said: “This is a deeply concerning move that fundamentally undermines the principles of fairness and due process. The government is handing the police sweeping powers to enter the homes of certificate holders when the ability to do so to protect public safety is already enshrined in law. This is potentially a serious infringement on the human rights of firearms users. In addition, by removing the safeguard of judicial oversight, a law-abiding section of society has been placed firmly into the category of second-class citizens.
“At a time when the firearms licensing system is already struggling under the weight of inefficiency and inconsistency, this does nothing to improve public safety.
“Instead of addressing the failings in the system, this response suggests a lack of understanding of the real problems present in firearms licensing.”
Also announced was the government’s intention to launch a new consultation later this year on whether controls on higher-powered firearm should be applied to lower-powered shotguns.
The government has refused to make the placing of a marker on the medical notes of certificate holders mandatory for general practitioners; despite 83 per cent of respondents supporting this proposal.
BASC will scrutinise the government’s proposals in detail and strongly oppose any measures that unfairly penalise the shooting community.
Updated 12 February 2025
BASC has labelled the government’s justification for an increase in firearms licensing fees as bogus and warned that inefficient licensing puts guns in the hands of the wrong people.
We wrote to all Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables in England and Wales, who are responsible for setting police budgets, to ask for assurances that funds raised will be used to resource their firearms licensing departments.
On the day the new fees came into effect, Wednesday 5 February, only 11 out of 42 constabularies had committed to guaranteeing that all, or at least some, of the funds would go towards improving firearms licensing. The seven police forces are: Cheshire, Derbyshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Thames Valley Police and West Mercia.
Christopher Graffius, BASC’s executive director of communications and public affairs, said: “The government’s justification for the increase is that the extra funds raised will go to support the work of firearms licensing departments, although it has no powers to ensure this happens.
“If they cannot guarantee that the money from fee increases will improve the system, then the government’s reasoning for a 133 per cent hike in firearms fees is bogus. People will be paying more for a service that continues to be inefficient.
“Inefficient licensing puts guns in the hands of the wrong people, it puts public safety at risk.”
BASC previously condemned the government’s decision to increase firearms licensing fees by an average of 133 per cent without fixing the inefficiencies undermining the current system.
The association expressed its concerns to the Home Office in a meeting last month with the Policing Minister, Dame Diana Johnson MP, and is engaging with senior Labour Party representatives and rural MPs. We are also asking the shooting community to contact their own MPs to raise the issue; read more here.
If you are happy to share your experiences of firearms licensing in your area, please complete our short online survey here. All information will be kept confidential and only used anonymously.
Published 15 January 2025
This circular sets out new firearms licensing fees which will come into force on 5 February 2025 under the Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 2025.
Section 43 of the Firearms Act 1968 gives the Secretary of State the power to amend firearms licensing fees by order. The 2025 order amends section 32(1), section 35(1), section 35(1A) and section 35(3) of the Firearms Act 1968, and sections 11(3) and 17(8) of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988, to increase the fees charged by the police in respect of the grant or renewal of firearm and shotgun certificates (including coterminous grant and renewal), variation of firearm certificates, replacement of lost or destroyed certificates, registration as a firearms dealer and the grant of visitors’ permits. The new fees will allow police forces to fully recover the costs they incur in administering these firearms licences.
From 5 February 2025 the new fees will be:
Licence type
Fee for full-cost recovery
Grant of firearms certificate £198
Renewal of firearm certificate £131
Grant of shotgun certificate £194
Renewal of shotgun certificate £126
Coterminous grant of firearm and shotgun certificates £202
Coterminous renewal of firearm and shotgun certificates £155
Registration as a firearms dealer: grant £466
Registration as a firearms dealer: renewal £466
Registration as a firearms dealer: game fair etc £30
Replacement of lost or destroyed firearms certificate £9
Replacement of lost or destroyed shotgun certificate £9
Variation of firearm certificate (not like for like) £47
Grant of visitors permit: group £233
Grant of visitors permit: individual £47
For coterminous grant or renewal applications there are four scenarios where the new fees apply. In all situations the fee is calculated using the fee for the firearms grant or renewal plus an additional amount for the shotgun grant or renewal. The scenarios are explained in more detail below:
when an applicant is granted a shotgun certificate at the same time as being granted a firearms certificate, the total fee payable will be £202. The fee for the grant of a firearm certificate will be £198 and the fee for the grant of a shotgun certificate will be £4;
when an applicant is granted a shotgun certificate at the same time as renewing a firearm certificate, the total fee payable will be £202. The fee for the renewal of a firearm certificate will be £131 and the fee for the grant of a shotgun certificate will be £71;
when an applicant is renewing a shotgun certificate at the same time as being granted a firearm certificate, the total fee payable will be £202. The fee for the grant of a firearm certificate will be £198 and the fee for the renewal of a shotgun certificate will be £4; and
when an applicant is renewing a shotgun certificate at the same time as renewing a firearms certificate, the total fee payable will be £155. The fee for a renewal of a firearm certificate will be £131 and the fee for the renewal of a shotgun certificate will be £24.
Firearms licensing applications received by the police on or after 5 February 2025 will incur the new fee. If an application and related payment has been received by the police on or before 4 February 2025, the police will honour the fee that has been paid. Applications to renew firearm and shotgun certificates should continue to be made within the usual timescales (please check the police force website for this information). Applicants should not apply ‘extra early’ in order to avoid paying the new fees. In these cases, the police may return applications and request that the new fee is paid. The National Police Chiefs’ Council has advised that most forces accept renewals up to four months before expiry date.
Police forces need to update related guidance and websites to reflect the new fees to be charged.
HSE Lead in Ammunition Update
HSE have published their final opinion on lead ammunition and confirmed their proposed 5-year transition period for the placing on the market and use of lead shot cartridges. Please note, this transition period only comes into place once the Government has enacted this law.
The CPSA have been working with HSE, fellow associations and BSSC throughout this consultation process. We are reviewing the full HSE opinion published on 13th December in detail and working with relevant government departments as this process moves forward.
To read the full dossier: HSE Lead Ammunition final opinion
In early 2025 we will be setting up a working group of CPSA board members, ground operators & partners from the gun trade, to plan this potential key change for our sport in the coming years.
We will keep you, the members, updated and if you have any questions, please contact us on the following dedicated email: lead@cpsa.co.uk