Firearms licensing system ‘not fit for purpose’, inspectorate says
The firearms licensing system in England and Wales is “not fit for purpose” and should be replaced by a new national body, the policing inspectorate has said.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said inconsistent decision-making, unclear guidance and poor oversight were creating risks to public safety.
The inspectorate said the current system had resulted in a “postcode lottery” in the level of scrutiny and service experienced by firearms and shotgun certificate holders.
During the ten years to March 2025, shootings involving legally held firearms resulted in the murder of at least 39 people, the report said.
HMICFRS has called for the creation of a new national firearms licensing authority to replace the existing 38 firearms and explosive licensing units in England and Wales.
The proposed body would be responsible for assessing applications and renewals for firearm and shotgun certificates, as well as ongoing monitoring of certificate holders.
Locally based staff would continue to carry out suitability visits, but the system would operate under a single national structure with central control over decision-making, risk management, training and performance.
His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Lee Freeman said change was now overdue. “Most of the nearly 500,000 certificate holders use their firearms and shotguns responsibly for lawful recreation or as essential tools for work. But they are faced with a postcode lottery in the service they receive from firearms and explosive licensing units.
“They, and the wider public, deserve a system that is clear, consistent and robust. We found the current system is none of these things.”
The inspectorate found that the legal framework governing firearms licensing was outdated and overly complex, with more than 30 pieces of legislation.
It also identified inconsistencies in training and suitability checks, with guidance fragmented and open to interpretation by individual police forces. Alongside its recommendation for a national licensing authority, HMICFRS made 22 further recommendations.
These include modernising firearms legislation, requiring applicants to undergo an in-person medical assessment, introducing a standardised competence assessment and creating a digital verification system to reduce the risk of forged certificates being used to buy firearms or shotguns.
Mr Freeman said: “This is not the first time the inspectorate and others have raised concerns about firearms licensing, and change is now overdue. A new national firearms licensing authority should be created to better protect public safety. Further tragedies shouldn’t be required before action is taken.”