Proposals include competency tests, face-to-face medical checks and changes to the way shotguns are licensed
Rural campaigners have warned that a sweeping overhaul of shotgun licensing could cause “carnage” in the system and inflict “untold damage to the shooting sector”.
The Countryside Alliance issued the warning after His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) published a report on 28 August calling for major changes to firearms and shotgun licensing.
The watchdog made 23 recommendations to government, including the creation of a single, centralised licensing body by 1 September 2029.
The Countryside Alliance has welcomed that proposal, having long argued that a national body could address weaknesses and inconsistencies in the current fragmented system.
His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Lee Freeman KPM said: “Most of the nearly 500,000 certificate holders use their firearms and shotguns responsibly for lawful recreation or as essential tools for work. But they are faced with a postcode lottery in the service they receive from firearms and explosive licensing units.
“They, and the wider public, deserve a system that is clear, consistent and robust. We found the current system is none of these things.”
Mr Freeman said concerns over firearms licensing had been raised repeatedly and argued that reform was now overdue.
He added: “A new national firearms licensing authority should be created to better protect public safety. Further tragedies shouldn’t be required before action is taken.”
Both HMICFRS and the Countryside Alliance therefore support the creation of a national licensing body, but they differ sharply over the wider package of reforms proposed.
Among those measures are mandatory gun-handling competency tests for new firearms and shotgun applicants, bringing shotgun licensing into line with Section 1 firearms, and requiring in-person medical assessments for applicants and renewals.
The report also recommends considering whether visitors’ permits should be restricted to people from countries with firearms licensing systems similar to the UK.
A wider overhaul of firearms legislation through a new Bill in Parliament has also been proposed.
The Countryside Alliance said at least five of the recommendations would be impractical and could place further pressure on already stretched licensing departments.
Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: “The HMICS report is riddled with contradictions.”
He said the report was right to identify failings in the current fragmented licensing system and to support a single licensing authority.
However, he strongly opposed several of the additional measures.
Mr Bonner said: “The recommendations for a raft of new regulations including the alignment of shotguns with high-powered rifles, new competence tests and face-to-face medical checks are both unjustified and completely impractical.”
He said many police licensing departments were already dealing with significant backlogs, with some having stopped accepting new applications.
The Countryside Alliance warned that imposing further requirements could increase delays for certificate holders and cause wider damage to the rural shooting sector.
Mr Bonner said: “If these proposals were implemented, they would cause carnage in the licensing system and do untold damage to the shooting sector, which is a crucial part of the rural economy.”
The organisation is urging ministers to focus on creating a single national licensing body rather than introducing what it sees as unnecessary additional restrictions.
Mr Bonner added: “Ministers should concentrate on delivering a new single licensing body which would deliver real improvements rather than introducing new restrictive legislation that would do nothing to improve public safety.”