Watchdog calls for national firearms licensing body
© Adobe Stock Farmers and rural firearm users could face the biggest shake-up to gun licensing in a generation after the police watchdog called for a single national firearms licensing authority for England and Wales.
A review by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) concluded the current system is “not fit for purpose” and recommended replacing the existing 38 firearms and explosives licensing units with a national body responsible for certificate applications, renewals and monitoring.
See also: Shotgun licensing to be overhauled by government
For farmers, one of the most significant proposals is to bring shotgun licensing rules closer to those governing firearms such as rifles. Inspectors argue the two systems are regulated differently despite both involving potentially lethal weapons.
However, the recommendation is likely to prove controversial in rural areas. A petition opposing plans to align shotgun and firearms licensing attracted more than 122,000 signatures amid concerns about increased costs and bureaucracy for legitimate users.
‘Postcode lottery’
The report found a “postcode lottery” in firearms licensing, with application processing times ranging from 14 days in some force areas to 163 days in others. Guidance, training and suitability checks were also found to vary significantly.
HM inspector of constabulary Lee Freeman said many of the nearly 500,000 certificate holders in England and Wales use firearms and shotguns responsibly, including as essential tools for work.
“They, and the wider public, deserve a system that is clear, consistent and robust,” he said.
Alongside a national licensing authority, HMICFRS is recommending mandatory in-person medical assessments, modernised firearms legislation and a digital certificate verification system.
Mixed reaction
Reaction from countryside groups has been mixed. Speaking to The Telegraph, Countryside Alliance chief executive Tim Bonner described further alignment of shotgun and rifle licensing as a “distraction” from the real issue of a fragmented licensing system.
He welcomed the proposal for a centralised authority, a view echoed by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), which said a single agency would deliver greater consistency.
For many farmers, the key issue is likely to be whether reforms reduce delays and inconsistencies without creating additional burdens.
Licensing fees already rose sharply in February 2025, with shotgun certificate fees increasing from £79.50 to £194 and firearms certificate fees from £88 to £198.
The Home Office has indicated it will consult later this year on proposals to strengthen shotgun controls and improve regulation of private firearms sales.
‘Consistency must not come at farmers’ expense’
Nearly half a million people in England and Wales hold a firearm or shotgun certificate, whether for recreation, sporting shooting, pest control or farming. Most are law-abiding and use their firearms responsibly.
Yet my recent inspection found the licensing system is not fit for purpose. Where you live can make all the difference to the service you receive as a certificate holder or applicant.
There are 38 separate firearms and explosive licensing units, each operating with its own interpretation of guidance and applying the same law in different ways. The result is unacceptable inconsistency and a postcode lottery.
A gamekeeper in one county might sail through a renewal in a matter of weeks, while an equally responsible certificate holder just across a county boundary faces additional scrutiny and months of delay.
We found processing times vary significantly, from 14 days in one force area to 163 days in another, with no clear link to resourcing. Rural businesses that rely on firearms and shotguns as essential working tools deserve better.
This is not a system that treats people fairly or provides the safeguards needed to keep the public safe. Our rural communities deserve a better system, with the rules applied consistently no matter where they live.
That is why we are calling on the government to create a new national firearms licensing authority, replacing the current patchwork of 38 firearms and explosive licensing units with a single national body.
Now is the time for government to act. Farmers, gamekeepers and other legitimate rural users deserve a licensing system that is fair, consistent and robust. Change is long overdue.
HM inspector of constabulary Lee Freeman
