Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department plans to take to reduce the waiting time for individuals who have been waiting over three years for firearm and shotgun licenses.

We do not collect data on the time taken by police forces to issue firearm and shotgun certificates.

The issue of how individual forces’ firearms licensing departments deal with applications for firearms certificates is an operational matter for the Chief Officer of each police force concerned. However, I have written to all Police and Crime Commissioners about the importance of an efficient and effective firearms licensing process in police forces and I continue to receive updates on force performance. In addition, force performance is being actively monitored by the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s lead for firearms licensing and she is working actively with forces with performance related issues.

Particular focus is being made on the backlogs in those areas of greatest risk, with a reduced routine reliance being made on the use of temporary permits, as well as a reduction in those whose certificates have expired, who have not been given temporary permits and who remain in possession of their firearms.

In addition, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) is planning a thematic inspection of firearms licensing in 2024/25 and case performance is likely to be one of the issues considered and inspected.

The Home Office is currently reviewing firearms licensing fees, which were last increased in 2015 and are now considerably below the cost of the service provided. The key aim of the review is to achieve full cost recovery for the police so that they receive the funding and resources they need to provide a more effective service. The income from new fees will enable police forces to better resource, train and equip their firearms licensing teams. This will help reduce delays in processing applications, as well as supporting public safety.

There are no plans to create a central licensing body to administer firearms licensing.