Firearms licensing inconsistencies “are symptomatic of wider police failures”
BASC is calling for a major overhaul of firearms licensing in England and Wales following a recent investigation.
Latest Home Office figures demonstrate the need for firearms licensing reform, says BASC
- Home Office figures show firearm and shotgun certificate numbers continue to decline, reinforcing concerns about the long-term impact of the current firearms licensing system.
- Renewal performance has improved, with completed firearm and shotgun certificate renewals up by more than 20 per cent compared to the previous year, reflecting progress in tackling backlogs.
- BASC says further reform is needed to deliver consistent standards across England and Wales, and continues to call for a single firearms licensing authority to provide a more efficient and accountable service.
BASC has renewed its call for the creation of a single firearms licensing authority to remove the ‘postcode lottery’ for certificate holders in England and Wales, following the publication of the latest Home Office firearms licensing statistics.
The figures show a continued decline in the number of firearm and shotgun certificate holders, reinforcing concerns that the current fragmented system is failing to provide a consistent and efficient service to the shooting community.
The statistics show that, as of 31 March 2026, there were 140,257 firearm certificates on issue, a three per cent decrease compared with 31 March 2025. There were also 457,340 shotgun certificates on issue, a five per cent decrease compared with 31 March 2025.
BASC director of firearms Bill Harriman said: “The decline in the number of certificate holders demonstrates that the system is failing for too many applicants. The inconsistencies that remain mean that applicants are still being subjected to a postcode lottery.
“The figures reinforce BASC’s long-standing call for firearms licensing in England and Wales to be removed from the current structure of 43 separate police forces and delivered through a dedicated national authority with common standards, clear accountability and appropriate resources. This consolidation would be a step forward in improving the current system, which remains deeply inconsistent in its delivery.”
Wider consequences for rural communities
The continued decline in the number of certificate holders has wider consequences for rural communities. Shooting contributes £3.3 billion to the UK economy and contributes £500 million to conservation management and habitat work carried out by land managers and conservation bodies. BASC says that a sustained reduction in participation risks undermining these contributions over time.
Home Office data showed an increase of 21 per cent and 24 per cent for firearm and shotgun certificate renewals respectively, compared with the year ending 31 March 2025.
BASC works alongside police firearms licensing teams across the country to provide training and hold constructive meetings with PCCs and Chief Constables from underperforming forces. Thanks to BASC interventions, Cumbria police committed additional resources to clearing its firearms licensing backlog, resulting in the resolution of 1,795 non-complex renewals in August 2024. Ongoing work with the force saw BASC provide specialist training to members of its licensing team in 2025, strengthening our relationship with the department, promoting understanding of the use of firearms by our members and supporting a more efficient service.
A major BASC report published last year examining the performance of police firearms licensing departments found significant variation in service delivery across England and Wales. While some forces are providing a timely and proportionate service, others are falling well short of expectations, leaving certificate holders facing lengthy waits and inconsistent processes.
Recent data released by the National Police Chiefs’ Council has further highlighted the pressures facing firearms licensing departments and the need for consistent processes, adequate staffing and effective national oversight.
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