The Home Office today circulated a consultation proposing the removal of sound moderators from the certification process.

The National Crime Agency have produced a document for circulation to those involved in shooting sports or activities.

As you will likely be aware, following on from the HSE consultation of 2022 in respect of lead ammunition, a second consultation was published in October 2023. This consultation closes on 10 December 2023.

Police Scotland Firearms Licensing have recently published the following documents on their website.

As you will likely be aware UK REACH on behalf of DEFRA previously ran a consultation in respect of lead ammunition, including lead shot.

The Scottish Government sought responses to a consultation to amend planning regulations to take in target shooting ranges which are used for less than 28 days.

You will likely know that the Home Office issued a Firearms Licensing consultation in June 2023 in respect to the Keyham tragedy, the subsequent reports by the Coroner and the IOPC in respect of the circumstances and also the views of the Scottish Affairs Committee in their review of firearms licensing in Scotland.

As you are likely aware, the Home Office has launched a consultation in respect of firearms licensing matters in England, Wales and Scotland.

Whilst we will be responding formally prior to the closure of the consultation on 23 August 2023, the following reflects our views at this time in respect of the questions asked in the consultation

The Home Office and Police Scotland have recently published statistics in respect of certification of firearms, including shotguns in England and Wales and Scotland respectively.

Our colleagues at the Scottish Gamekeepers Association recently submitted a petition asking the Scottish Parliament to recognise control of generalist predators as similar to habitat restoration as an act of conservation.

On Thursday, 29 June 2023, the UK Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire, Chris Philp, MP, published the UK Government’s response to the Keyham tragedy, the subsequent IOPC report and the considerations of the Scottish Affairs Committee in respect of firearms licensing.

The SG have published a consultation in respect of planning matters for temporary ranges involving fixed targets.

The Home Office are currently reviewing the fees for firearms licensing matters. The fees were last increased seven years ago. It is the stated position of the Home Office to move towards full cost recovery. Work is ongoing to establish what these costs are and the Home Office have engaged with the police and the shooting organisations in this regard.