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
Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire firearms licensing department
Durham Constabulary
Essex Police
Norfolk Constabulary
Suffolk Constabulary
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.
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