Antique Firearms Regulations 2021: What you need to know
The Antique Firearms Regulations 2021 becomes law on 22nd March 2021. Check whether your firearm qualifies as an antique and read our guidance on what you should do next.
BASC given assurances over Beds, Cambs and Herts firearms licensing failures
BASC has welcomed constructive engagement with John Tizard, Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire, following the recent release of a damning inspection report into firearms licensing failures across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire (BCH).
After serious concerns were raised by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), BASC’s head of firearms, Martin Parker, held a productive meeting with Police and Crime Commissioner Tizard, who is one of the three PCCs within the BCH collaboration.
The meeting focused on identifying a practical and sustainable way forward in response to the Accelerated Cause of Concern issued by HMICFRS, and on developing an appropriate action plan to address longstanding performance, resourcing and governance issues within the collaboration.
BASC said the engagement was positive and marked an important step towards addressing the serious shortcomings previously identified by both HMICFRS and BASC’s own firearms licensing report published in July 2025.
Constructive and encouraging meeting
Following the meeting, Martin Parker said: “This was a constructive and encouraging meeting, and I welcome the willingness shown by the Bedfordshire PCC to engage directly with BASC and to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation facing certificate holders across the BCH collaboration.
“There is now an opportunity to move beyond identifying problems and to focus on developing a realistic and effective action plan. BASC’s position remains clear: public safety and fairness for lawful certificate holders depend on properly resourced, well-led and consistently applied firearms licensing.”
BASC has long warned that excessive delays, inconsistent decision-making and poor communication undermine public confidence, place unnecessary strain on lawful certificate holders and risk compromising public safety. The association said it will continue to engage robustly but constructively with PCCs, police forces and government to ensure firearms licensing is properly funded and fit for purpose.
PCC John Tizard said: “I am aware that gun owners and licence applicants have been let down and for that I apologise. My PCC colleagues from Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire and I hold our chief constables to turning the service around. Additional resources including police officers have been allocated to the FEL unit. There will be an action plan to respond to the HMICFRS report. Change will take time, but performance must improve so that risk is effectively managed and customers are well served.”
Performance figures from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) last week echoed the findings of the HMICFRS report, read more here.
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