Firearms licensing during coronavirus outbreak

Latest update

Following lockdowns in March, most police forces were unable to accept first-time grant applications and variations due to the impact of COVID-19 on officer and staff functions. However, most police forces continued to process renewals, albeit with time delays in many cases.

As COVID-19 restrictions have eased, BASC has been urging police forces to resume all firearms licensing services as soon as possible to reduce the backlogs that have been building up since March. We do not want to see anyone with an interest in shooting disadvantaged.

Police forces that have resumed the processing of grants, visitor permits and variations include Police Scotland, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Gwent Police, North Wales Police, Durham Constabulary, Essex Police, Suffolk Constabulary and Warwickshire Police.

However, this is an ever-changing situation and BASC recommends that you contact your police force’s firearms licensing team for the latest situation.

At BASC, our job is to ensure that shooting flourishes as we adapt to tackle and emerge from these unprecedented and challenging times.

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