GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES MAJOR FIREARMS LICENCE FEE INCREASES AMID SYSTEM INEFFICIENCIES

The government has announced increases of up to 157 percent in firearms licensing fees across England, Scotland, and Wales. The hikes are intended to achieve full cost recovery for police forces, but stakeholders argue they burden rural businesses and firearm owners.

The revised fee structure is effective from 5 February, 2025, and some of the most notable increases include:

• Grant of firearms certificate: £198

• Renewal of firearms certificate: £131

• Grant of shotgun certificate: £194

• Renewal of shotgun certificate: £126

• Coterminous grant of firearm and shotgun certificates: £202

• Coterminous renewal of firearm and shotgun certificates: £155

• Registration as a firearms dealer: £466 (grant or renewal)

• Variation of firearm certificate (not like-for-like): £47

These changes represent a major financial adjustment for individuals and businesses alike. Gamekeepers, pest controllers, and farmers, in particular, will see significant increases in the costs associated with maintaining their licences.

The fee increases will directly affect shooting retailers and rural businesses, including 46,505 farming enterprises, 3,500 gamekeepers, and hundreds of foresters, deer stalkers, and pest controllers. Higher licensing costs may reduce demand for firearms and ammunition, potentially affecting retailer revenue.

Several organisations, including the GTA, BASC, and the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), have criticised the government’s approach. Simon West, executive director of the GTA, commented: “The study we are now conducting, funded by the Shooting Industry Fund, will examine where we are and where we want to be. We are working with the Home Office and the police to examine best practice and find what has gone wrong. We are also looking at the longer term and how legislation might be changed to remove all the wasteful efforts of licensing departments that have no bearing on public safety, such as for one -for-one variations.” BASC chief executive Ian Bell added: “The government’s plan to raise fees without addressing the glaring inefficiencies in the system is outrageous. Imposing a rise in fees without tackling these inefficiencies endangers public safety and condemns people to pay a premium for an inefficient service, which in many cases can take years to process applications.

“There has been a complete absence of any proper consultation with stakeholders or the public, despite the fact that this has been done in the past with fee increases, and no transparency on how firearms fees are being calculated by this government.

“The public and lawful firearms owners deserve a licensing process that protects public safety, and is fair, efficient, and transparent. BASC will continue to fight for a system that delivers for both public safety and the shooting community.”

The CLA also voiced its concerns about the lack of evidence-led reforms to accompany the increases. CLA chief legal adviser Andrew Gillett stated: “This latest government licence fee increase will impact many rural landowners and businesses. The scale of the increase does not address the deep-rooted inefficiencies in the current system, and there is no guarantee the extra money raised will be ringfenced to help improve service levels. Any fee increase should be evidence-led and accompanied by meaningful improvements to the licensing process.”

Financial impact

The government’s impact assessment outlines the following financial effects of the fee increases…

• Cost to individuals: Estimated between £64.9 million and £120.5 million, with a central estimate of £92.7 million.

• Cost to businesses: Estimated between £7.3 million and £13.6 million, with a central estimate of £10.5 million.

• Benefit to police budgets: Increased revenue estimated between £72.2 million and £134.1 million, with a central estimate of £103.2 million. Despite these projections, stakeholders remain sceptical about whether the increased revenue will be allocated to improving firearms licensing departments. BASC has called on Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to ensure that funds raised through the fee increases are used to resource these departments effectively.

Challenges for shooting retailers For the UK’s shooting retailers, the fee increases present significant challenges. Rising licensing costs, combined with ongoing inefficiencies in the licensing process, could reduce demand for firearms and ammunition, directly impacting retail revenue. Delays in processing licences also frustrate retailers and their customers.

Industry organisations have urged the government to ensure that additional revenue from the fee increases is used to improve the system’s efficiency and fairness. With fees rising and system reforms uncertain, the industry is calling for transparency, consultation, and accountability to deliver a better service for lawful firearm owners and busines.