NEW FIREARMS LICENSING FEES: WHAT GUN TRADERS NEED TO KNOW

The Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 2025 will come into effect on 5 February 2025. This Order is said to ensure that police forces can recover the full costs of processing firearms licences, the fees in respect of which have not been increased since 2015.

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK - ANDRII YALANSKYI;

THE NEW FEE STRUCTURE

From 5 February 2025, the updated fees for firearms licensing will include a 111 percent rise for firearm certificate renewals and a 157 percent rise for shotgun certificate renewals. A firearms certificate grant will rise from £88 to £198, a 125 percent increase. Meanwhile, Shotgun certificates will see an even steeper rise from £79.50 to £194, marking a 144 percent increase. The fees for coterminous applications will differ depending on the specific circumstances.

WHY ARE THE FEES CHANGING?

The Minister for State of Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention, Dame Diana Johnson, released a statement on the 15 January ahead of the laying of the Statutory Instrument before Parliament in which she said: “The fees for firearms licensing applications administered by police forces were last increased in 2015 and they no longer meet the cost of the service provided. It is essential for both public safety and police efficiency that full cost recovery fees are introduced so that service improvements can be made. The need to increase fees to help address shortcomings in firearms licensing was highlighted as essential for public safety by the Senior Coroner in his Preventing Future Deaths reports into the fatal shootings in Plymouth in August 2021”.

Some point to the reference to the Plymouth shootings as a distraction to what is perceived to be the current Government’s wider position on rural communities and activities.

Other comments have related to the lack of understanding as to how fee levels have been calculated and whether these increases amount to a full cost recovery or perhaps go further.

In the context of huge variation in performance of firearms licensing teams across England and Wales, it does appear that some forces are able to manage with fees at the current levels meaning that perhaps performance has in reality been impacted by budgeting decisions within forces.

REACTIONS AND CONCERNS

The increase has already sparked widespread criticism as the changes represent a significant financial burden for certificate holders, and there is a risk that the steep increases will:

•Price some out of lawful shooting activities.

•Reduce participation in conservation and pest control efforts.

•Further alienate rural communities already under economic strain.

Critics argue the increase disproportionately impacts rural communities. BASC Chief Executive, Ian Bell, said “This fee hike fails to address the glaring inefficiencies in the firearms licensing system. It will price many people out of lawful shooting activities, alienating rural communities and threatening essential conservation and pest control work.”

Countryside Alliance Chief Executive, Tim Bonner, warned that the increases would have a “significant financial impact” on rural communities, and that “the government must ensure any cost recovery is linked to an efficient system”.

BACKGROUND AND NEGOTIATIONS

On 20 December, the Home Office in a letter to BASC outline the Government’s intent to use a statutory instrument to raise fees, however, there were no figures mentioned at this stage.

In early 2024, BASC agreed with the police, prior to the fee increase, that there will be an immediate inflationary increase of around 35 percent over the 2015 firearms licensing fee. They also agreed that police departments will have two years to achieve a 17-week turnaround time for uncontroversial firearms licensing applications, after which full-cost recovery can be implemented based on a transparent calculation of expenses. However, arguably the most important proposal made was that the funds secured for administering the system should be ring-fenced, with annual adjustments in line with inflation to prevent future significant increases and underfunding. This suggested framework for a transparent costings process has been put forward by BASC to the Home Office and they have asked that the government reconsider their current approach.

KEY DEADLINES FOR APPLICATIONS

The updated fees apply to all applications received by police forces on or after 5 February 2025. Applications submitted on or before 4 February 2025, with the correct payment, will be processed under the current fee structure.

It is important to avoid submitting applications too early in an attempt to avoid the new fees. This is because police forces may return early submissions and request payment under the updated structure. So it is best to stick to the recommended timelines to ensure a smooth process.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council advises that most forces accept renewal applications up to four months before the certificate expiry date. If you are unsure, then you should check with your local police force for specific deadlines to plan accordingly.

UNCHANGED FEES

Fees charged by the Home Office and the Scottish Government in respect of section 5 authorities, shooting club approvals, or museum licences, remain unchanged by the 2025 Order. Only the licensing fees administered by police forces are affected.

The introduction of the 2025 Order marks a significant shift in the cost structure for firearms licensing in the UK, with increases in fees aimed at addressing widening funding gaps. Though the changes are intended to enable police forces to recover the full administrative costs, significant concerns remain about the financial impact the increases will have on the shooting landscape. Leaders in this field are therefore continuing to advocate for ring-fenced funding and transparent cost reviews.