What difference does contacting your PCC make?
Martin Parker
BASC asks its members to get involved in consultations or lobby politicians to help us protect the future of shooting. Martin Parker explains why contacting your Police and Crime Commissioner about firearms licensing is one of the most important things you can do.
Shooting sports in this country are facing an existential crisis. BASC estimates that there are currently some 24,000 people awaiting a grant for a shotgun or firearms certificate.
There are probably more than a dozen forces, over 25%, that are taking in excess of twelve months to process a grant application, with some closer to two years. Even worse, it is taking twelve months for some forces to carry out renewals.
Many forces are relying on Section 28B of the Firearms Act 1968; this allows the life of a certificate to be extended by eight weeks, if you apply more than eight weeks before the normal expiry date.
Nevertheless, this is still insufficient for may forces to complete the process. As a result, forces are having to issue Section 7 permits to certificate holders in order for them to remain in legal possession.
Those possessing rifles, however, are unable to purchase ammunition for their guns. Nor can any new firearms be purchased, or any variations issued (for further important information on both Section 28B and Section 7 Permits, click here).
The lifeblood of shooting
Not being able to process timely renewals is a serious problem. But the effective suspension of grants by some forces, and the actual suspension by one, we have a much more serious threat to the future of shooting.
New shooters are the lifeblood of our sport. Shooting cannot survive if those taking it up are not replacing those giving up.
Also of great concern are the wider knock-on effects. The Gun Trade Association estimates that new certificate holders spend around £2,000 on purchasing equipment. Many will spend a great deal more than this, but even if this were an average, those waiting for a certificate represent a loss of £48 million per year to the trade.
In addition to this, there are all the wider economic impacts. Those who do not have access to a firearm are, by definition, unable to attend shoots. These same individuals will not book the accommodation in the local pub near to the shoot. All this is bound to impact on the rural economy, already struggling in the current economic situation.
The role of PCCs
In 2011, Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) were introduced in England and Wales to hold chief constables to account. It is time they did so with respect to firearms licensing.
We are constantly told by police forces that it is a resource issue, or it’s because of Covid, or because of the introduction of Home Office Statutory Guidance. A dozen excuses! And yet there are forces, which despite having all the same problems, have continued to offer an efficient, delay free service.
BASC’s report on firearms licensing earlier this year identified seven forces that appeared to be handling firearms licensing effectively. North Wales and North Yorkshire police have since joined them in offering a similarly good service. Why are other chief constables not emulating those forces?
Police Scotland, which presumably has all the same demands made on it that forces do in England and Wales, has no delays on grants and processed over 99% of renewals prior to expiry. What is it that seems to work so well north of the border? Should we not be looking at their practices and the methods of other forces that are performing well?
Holding PCCs to account
The time has come to hold PCCs to account. Like MPs, they are directly accountable to you, the public. They are there to denote your views on policing. Many represent rural areas where there are lots of shooters and where supporting the local economy is to be expected.
More than 70% of PCCs are affiliated to the Conservative Party, which should be supporting country pursuits and small rural businesses. BASC would therefore encourage you to write to your PCC, particularly if you live in a region where the police force is currently failing to deliver an adequate service. You should ask specific questions relating to what steps the force is taking to bring their provision up to an acceptable level. You should also seek commitments as to when such a service will be achieved.
Some PCCs have claimed that this is an operational police issue, and they cannot be involved. This is nonsense. In any correspondence you should remind them that one of their key functions is to “Hold the Chief Constable to account for delivering an effective and efficient police service.” This is taken directly from the Association of PCCs (APCCs) website.
You may also wish to remind them that in the 2025 PCC elections, the shooting community will in many cases make the difference between their re-election, or their replacement.
BASC is currently engaged with a number of PCCs with the objective of galvanising the APCC into action. We have offered to address both their regional and national conferences and have requested that, due to the current state of firearms licensing, the subject is addressed at the next APCC and National Police Chief’s Council conference.
Contact your PCC
You can contact your PCC through our contact platform here. To help you, we’ve created a suggested email text for use, which you can also alter and edit to reflect your own thoughts and situation.
If you want restored confidence in the firearms licensing service in your area, lobby your PCC today.
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