The proposed increases would have seen fees for an individual firearm certificate rise from £50 to £121 and the cost of a firearms dealer’s certificate rise from £150 to £528.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Committee which took place on the 17th October 2013 where other issues such as the age reduction for young shooters, the banded system and firearms dealer’s security specification were also discussed.
The breakdown of the relationship between organisations such as BASC and the Police Service Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) Firearms and Explosives Branch was again highlighted as a major hurdle and the Committee stressed the need for the Department of Justice (DoJ) and PSNI to engage with stakeholders and address their issues of concern.
Speaking after the Committee for Justice meeting at Stormont, BASC NI director Tommy Mayne said: “We are very grateful to the Justice Committee for their cooperation, understanding and their pragmatic approach to these very important issues. We will continue to work with the Justice Committee and partner organisations to ensure firearm certificate holders in Northern Ireland receive an efficient level of service at a fair price. Many stakeholders have raised concerns about the lack of accountability of PSNI FEB. BASC will work on behalf of its members and in partnership with other stakeholders to ensure that the PSNI’s Firearms and Explosive Branch are accountable for their actions. In Britain, BASC is working with the Home Office to assess the correct level of fees payable by shooters for licensing services provided by police under the Firearms Act 1968.”
Picture shows left to right: Chair of the Justice Committee Paul Givan MLA with BASC NI director Tommy Mayne