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Firearms: Licensing

Asked by Jim ShannonDemocratic Unionist PartyHome OfficeTabled Answered 20 November 2025UIN 90187

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of waiting times for firearms licensing.

Answered by Sarah Jones

The issuing of firearms certificates, resourcing of firearms licensing teams and the efficiency of police forces is a matter for individual Chief Officers of Police and Police and Crime Commissioners. In the interests of consistency and transparency, the National Policing Chiefs Council Lead for Firearms Licensing has published performance data for firearms licensing teams in all forces. This includes performance against a target for forces to complete applications for the grant or renewal of firearm and shotgun certificates within four months, unless there are concerns about the suitability of the applicant.

Working with the National Policing Chiefs Council Lead for Firearms Licensing, we continue to review the licensing performance of all forces and we will continue to engage with individual Chief Officers and Police and Crime Commissioners where there are specific concerns about any forces’ performance.

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