The initiative follows months of and Council Member of the GTA, said: collaboration between Ofcom’s weapons policy team and the Gun Trade Association (GTA), which played a central role in helping to make the group a reality. The original idea for the working group came from Barry Johnson, business development and compliance manager at the Deactivated Weapons Association, whose proposal for a formal mechanism of engagement quickly gained support from the GTA and other stakeholders across the trade.
The GTA’s early involvement was instrumental in ensuring that the voices of lawful firearms and shooting based organisations, distributors, media operators and online retailers would be heard as Ofcom shapes its framework. The association is working directly with Ofcom’s weapons policy team to provide insight into how legitimate shooting businesses operate online, highlighting the importance of proportionate enforcement and practical compliance for registered firearms dealers and related companies.
For the first time, the UK gun trade now has a seat at the table with Ofcom, allowing direct engagement on issues that could otherwise affect how shooting products and content are presented, promoted and sold online. The formation of the OFTWG is regarded within the industry as a significant breakthrough for ensuring that lawful shooting is properly understood within future online regulation.
The members of the group are as follows: Stephen Jolly, CEO of the Gun Trade Association, Simon Barr, CEO of TWS and council member of the GTA; Jeremy Hinde, secretary of the British Shooting Sports Council (BSSC); Nick Doherty, barrister at Brundell Chambers and GTA legal adviser; and Barry Johnson of the Deactivated Weapons Association. Representing Ofcom is Michael Railton, illegal harms, firearms, knives and weapons lead.
Simon Barr, CEO of Time Well Spent Group and Council Member of the GTA, said:
“The key takeaway so far is that lawful shooting and firearms businesses have now been clarified by Ofcom as largely out of scope of the Online Safety Act, a hugely reassuring position for the legitimate trade. The only areas that will require formal compliance are peer-to-peer classified and forum-based sites, which will need to complete the children’s risk assessment to ensure they meet the Act’s basic duties.
“This more balanced and proportionate approach from Ofcom is, I believe, a direct result of the positive engagement we’ve established through the Firearm Trade Working Group. Michael Railton and his team have been open, constructive and proactive from the outset and it’s clear that they want to help us reach practical outcomes rather than impose unnecessary burdens on responsible businesses.
The creation of this working group marks a significant step forward for how the UK gun trade is represented in national regulation, and it’s encouraging to see Ofcom taking the time to understand our sector properly.”
In a statement prepared exclusively for Gun Trade Insider, Ofcom said:
“Ofcom weapons policy team is pleased to announce the formation of the Firearm Trade Working Group (OFTWG), a new stakeholder forum established to support our regulatory responsibilities under the Online Safety Act (OSA).
“As the UK’s independent communications regulator, Ofcom is responsible for ensuring that online services take appropriate steps to protect users from illegal and harmful content. Under the OSA, our role includes setting standards, supervising compliance, and enforcing duties on regulated services to reduce the risk of harm, particularly in areas such as the illicit sale and promotion of weapons.
“Ofcom is an evidence-based regulator. We actively seek out engagement with key stakeholders to build and evolve our understanding of emerging risks, sector-specific challenges, and the practical realities of online harm. This collaborative approach ensures that our decisions are grounded in real-world insight and that we implement our statutory duties as thoroughly and effectively as possible.
“The OFTWG brings together representatives from across the firearm trade, including trade bodies, publishers, and subject matter experts. The group will provide a forum for frank discussion, policy development, and the co-creation of practical solutions to address online harms linked to the illicit firearms trade.”
Michael Railton, Ofcom’s weapons and associated violence policy lead, said:“I have been working with several members who represent the legitimate firearms trade since 2023, and it made a great deal of sense to form a working group. We are also actively working with law enforcement, civil society and government to build our evidence base on the weapons harm. I look forward to working closely with our partners in the OFTWG to ensure that our regulatory approach is proportionate, informed, and responsive to the needs of the UK public.”
The new working group will meet regularly to share evidence, review policy developments and ensure that the interests of legitimate UK gun businesses are clearly represented as Ofcom delivers its regulatory responsibilities under the OSA.