The British Association for Shooting and Conservation has criticised a new Crimestoppers campaign in Cumbria that encourages anonymous reports about licensed firearms holders.
Christopher Graffius, BASC’s director of communications and public affairs, said the initiative invites “secret accusations” that are “wide open to abuse”, adding that campaigns which sow mistrust “do nothing to make the public safer”.
BASC highlighted that the UK already has one of the most stringent licensing systems in the world. Cumbria has 8,656 certificate holders and only 32 revocations in the most recent year of available data, underscoring the high levels of responsibility among legal owners and the effectiveness of existing monitoring.
In response to the campaign, BASC will raise its concerns with the Home Office policing minister next week, write to the Crimestoppers CEO calling for the campaign’s withdrawal, and contact Cumbria Police’s chief constable and PCC. The association will also write to Cumbrian MPs to ensure the issue is raised with ministers.
BASC said it remains committed to public safety while defending fair treatment for responsible firearms users.