Have you had your certificate backdated?

If your police firearms licensing department has issued you with a backdated firearms or shotgun certificate following a delay in your renewal, we would like to hear from you.

BASC has been made aware of one UK police force that has been issuing backdated certificates to applicants. This has happened in circumstances where, due to delays in renewing, individuals have been issued with Section 7 temporary permits. The permits have sometimes been in place for more than 12 months. 

When, however, a new certificate was issued, it was backdated to the previous one’s expiry date. This is directly in contravention of Section 28A of the Firearms Act 1968. It is also against Home Office and FELWG advice.

We have anecdotal evidence that this practice is also happening in other forces and BASC would be interested in members’ experiences. 

If you, or someone you know, has been issued with a backdated certificate, whether for a rifle, shotgun or both, please get in touch by emailing us here.

Looking for advice on firearms law and licensing? Head to our dedicated pages here.