Home Office Statistics - Part 1
On 27 June 2024, the Home Office published the Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates England and Wales: April 2023 to March 2024
The stats showed the following generally.
147,364 firearm certificates on issue, a 0.2% increase compared with 31 March 2023
495,798 shotgun certificates on issue, a 1% decrease compared with 31 March 2023
510,717 people who held a firearm and or a shotgun certificate, a 1% decrease compared with 31 March 2023
507 firearm certificates revoked, a 21% increase compared with the year ending 31 March 2023 (the highest number of firearm certificate revocations since comparable records began, following the introduction of the NFLMS in 2007)
1,559 shotgun certificates revoked, a 34% increase compared with the year ending 31 March 2023 (the highest number of shotgun certificate revocations since comparable records began, following the introduction of the NFLMS in 2007)
We often talk about the post-Keyham effect. These stats reflect the more robust stance the police are adopting concerning the lessons learned after the tragedy in Plymouth. The monster who killed the tragic victims, going about their daily business, should never have had access to a firearm, yet the police allowed him to have one.
Consequently, more attention is being paid to the concerns raised. In the UK, it is a qualified right to own a firearm and a shotgun. The legislation states, ‘A firearm certificate shall be granted where the chief officer of police is satisfied….’ and' a shotgun certificate shall be granted…’ and then set out the tests which must be passed – not prohibited, etc. So, if you pass the tests to the satisfaction of the Chief Officer, they shall issue a certificate. The definition of shall is to say that something certainly will or must happen.
However, getting a certificate is one thing. When you are part of the 0.86% of the population in England and Wales who have access to a firearm, please remember that the privilege comes in keeping a hold of that right. You have access to something that 99.14% don’t.
You must not expose yourself to the risk of it being removed, and given the police are increasingly robust in dealing with infractions of the licensing regime when it involves firearms, the resultant challenges that this brings can be stressful and very expensive.
If you become aware of the police showing an interest in your possession of firearms, please, and I can't reiterate this enough, contact us immediately for advice.