BASC is fighting proposals to increase firearm certificate fees in Northern Ireland

The proposals are part of the NI Firearms Consultation which is currently undergoing Justice Committee scrutiny at Stormont before being made public.

BASC understands that the draft consultation document proposes a 140 per cent increase in the cost of a firearm certificate which would jump from £50 to £120.

The draft document also proposes a 365 per cent increase in the cost of a firearms dealer’s certificate, which would increase from £150 to £697.

BASC is strongly opposed to any increase in licensing fees without a full, independent, transparent and public review of the necessary processes within firearms licensing. BASC is also concerned that there are no proper service standards, competency requirements or customer satisfaction measures in place.

Tommy Mayne, BASC Northern Ireland director, said: “These proposals put more pressure on our firearms dealers who for many years have struggled to make a living given the very long delays within our firearms licensing system. While there is no denying that processing times have improved dramatically over the past 18 months or so, our licensing system is far from perfect and these very substantial increases come at a time when there are added difficulties as a result of the economic climate."

BASC is lobbying members of the Justice Committee to voice its opposition to the proposed fees increase.