The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is seeking evidence on the environmental, animal health and welfare impacts of rearing, releasing, and shooting gamebirds in England.

We received this information today from Police Scotland; however, because the legislation is UK-wide, it applies to all forces.  The NPCC lead has told us that their advice to English and Welsh forces will generally align with that issued by Police Scotland.

Nature Scot has informed us that they will soon write to all current 18(2) Night Shooting authorisation holders about recent changes Police Scotland has made to how prior notification for night shooting activity is registered.

On Friday, 28 August 2026, HMICFRS published its thematic inspection, entitled ‘Firearms licensing An inspection of firearms licensing across police forces in England and Wales’.  The report received significant press coverage. The report is some 81 pages in length and contains 23 recommendations.

NatureScot is reviewing the general licences in operation in Scotland.  

As you will likely know, legislation was recently passed that removed the requirement to record sound moderators on a certificate.  Section 44 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which amends the 1968 Firearms Act, commences today, 29 June 2026, and this means that sound moderators will not be required to be covered by a certificate.  

A pioneering new partnership involving a host of organisations representing farming, gamekeeping, mental health, field sports and target shooting has been established in Scotland to build awareness and understanding of health and wellbeing in relation to firearms licensing.

On 18 May 2026, the Home Office published the updated version of its non-statutory guidance on firearms licensing law.  

On Thursday, 14 May 2026, the UK government published Circular 001/2026: Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 2026 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/circular-0012026-firearms-variation-of-fees-order-2026), which details an increase in firearms licensing fees from 4 June 2026.  

The recent consultation launched by the UK Government seeks views on changes to Part 1, Schedule 2 (2.1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA). Schedule 2.1 sets out which wild bird species may be killed or taken outside the “close season”.