BASC has issued a reminder to members that new firearms licensing fees came into effect from 6 April, the first change since 2001.
The new fees, which were agreed by a Home Office working group, which included the police, BASC and the British Shooting Sports Council, are compliant with Treasury guidelines and the principles of better regulation. They were set after a detailed examination of police costs and processes.
They are designed to provide full cost recovery once e-commerce measures, including an online payments system, are introduced by the police.
The fee for the grant of a shotgun certificate from will rise from £50 to £79.50 with proportionate increases in other fees. A shotgun renewal will cost £49. The grant of a firearms certificate is £88 with the renewal set at £62. The fee for variations on firearm certificates falls to £20.
BASC Chairman Alan Jarrett said: “The successful negotiation of these fees through due process and despite the demand for much larger sums is a first step in ensuring a licensing system that provides both excellent service to shooters and protects public safety.
“BASC is currently discussing more effective systems of licensing and we have publicly stated our desire to see the length of certificates extended from five to ten years. A ten-year certificate would help to reduce police costs and bureaucracy without affecting public safety. It could be the foundation of a better licensing system.”
BASC Chief Executive Richard Ali said: “The introduction of new fees marks a successful conclusion of negotiations with the police and the government which began more than two years ago, but the task of improving the licensing regime goes on and those who shoot can be confident that BASC expertise is being deployed to ensure that they get a fair settlement.”
ENDS
Note to editors. The full schedule of fees is below:
| Firearm certificate | Grant / renewal | £88 / £62 |
| Shotgun certificate | Grant / renewal | £79.50 / £49 |
| Registered Firearms Dealer | Grant / renewal | £200 |
| British Visitors Permit | Individual / group | £20 / £100 |
| Coterminous certificates | Grant / renewal | £90 / £65 |
| Game fairs (RFD extension) | Grant | £13 |
| Replacement certificate | £4 | |
| Variation (not like for like) | £20 |
For more information please call the BASC press office on 01244 573052