BASC condemns proposed firearms fees hike as a threat to public safety

BASC has condemned the government’s decision to increase firearms licensing fees in England, Scotland and Wales to full-cost recovery without fixing the inefficiencies undermining the current system.

BASC warns that an inefficient system is an ineffective system, and this failure undermines public safety – the fundamental purpose of firearms licensing. An ineffective system can allow the wrong people to obtain guns.

BASC has described the failure to tackle inefficiencies as “outrageous”, pointing out that more than a quarter of police forces are taking between one and two years to process licensing applications – delays that would be unacceptable for passports or driving licences.

The government claims the fee increase will fund system improvements, but this is misleading. Firearms licensing fees are paid into general police budgets and are not ringfenced for the licensing system. Successive governments have failed to guarantee that licensing fees will go into the system and the government has no power to enforce its wishes in matters of operational independence, such as police budgeting.

BASC expressed its concerns to the Home Office in a meeting this week with the Policing Minister, Dame Diana Johnson MP, and is engaging with senior Labour Party representatives and rural MPs.

Responding to the announcement, BASC chief executive, Ian Bell, said: “The government’s plan to raise fees without addressing the glaring inefficiencies in the system is outrageous. It appears this government is intent on alienating yet another rural constituency.

“Imposing a rise in fees without tackling these inefficiencies endangers public safety and condemns people to having to pay a premium for an inefficient service which in many cases can take years to process applications.

“There has been a complete absence of any proper consultation with stakeholders or the public, despite the fact that this has been done in the past with fee increases, and no transparency on how firearms fees are being calculated by this government.

“The public and lawful firearms owners deserve a licensing process that protects public safety, and is fair, efficient, and transparent. BASC will continue to fight for a system that delivers for both public safety and the shooting community.”