The amendment was introduced during the Bill’s report stage in the House of Lords on 25 February. The Crime and Policing Bill is expected to complete its passage through Parliament by the end of May 2026.
If enacted, the amendment would remove sound moderators and flash suppressors from the statutory definitions of “firearm” and “shotgun” within the Firearms Act 1968.
For certificate holders, this would mean that Section 1 rifle certificate holders would no longer need to apply for a variation to acquire a moderator, nor have the moderator individually entered onto their firearm certificate.
Section 2 shotgun certificate holders would not be affected by the retained possession offence, which currently applies specifically to Section 1 firearms.
In England and Wales, users of airguns producing less than 12 ft/lb would see no change under the proposed amendments.
The legislation would also amend the position of registered firearms dealers. Schedule 1 proposes that Section 8(1) of the Firearms Act 1968 would be revised to allow a registered firearms dealer, or their employee, to possess or acquire firearms, ammunition or a relevant accessory without holding a certificate. In this context, the term “relevant accessory” refers to a sound moderator.
For holders of Section 5 prohibited weapons authorities, the existing requirement to hold both a Secretary of State authority and a valid firearm certificate would remain unchanged. Section 31 of the Firearms Act 1968 requires that a chief officer of police must not refuse to grant or renew a certificate to a person who already holds such an authority.
The Government has indicated that the changes would significantly reduce the administrative burden on police firearms licensing departments, while removing the need for certificate holders to undergo the variation process currently required to purchase moderators.
However, the amendment would introduce a new offence of possessing a sound moderator or flash suppressor without holding a valid firearm certificate or shotgun certificate. Under the proposed provisions, it would become an offence to possess a sound moderator designed for a Section 1 firearm without also holding a valid FAC or SGC.
Until the amendment is formally enacted, sound moderators remain classified as Section 1 firearms under current legislation.
IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS: PAGE 24