Luke Pollard MP welcomes new firearms licensing legislation

New legislation set to take effect on February 5th, 2025, will overhaul the financial structure of firearms licensing, requiring applicants to bear the full cost of their applications, including safety checks. The move, known as full cost recovery, addresses key recommendations from the coroner’s inquest into the 2021 Keyham shootings, which highlighted serious failings in firearms licensing procedures.

Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson MP announced that this reform will free up an estimated £103 million for police forces over the next decade, providing resources to tackle shortcomings in firearms licensing. The coroner’s inquest into the Keyham tragedy identified a “catastrophic failure” by Devon and Cornwall Police, which allowed the perpetrator to regain possession of his firearm weeks before the shooting.

Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, has been a vocal advocate for stronger gun laws since the Keyham tragedy, which claimed five lives. He welcomed news of the funds being used directly for firearms licensing units to improve decision-making processes and prevent future tragedies.

“This is good news. Those applying for firearms certificates will now have to pay the full cost of processing them,” said Mr Pollard.
“I have been campaigning for stronger gun laws since the tragedy in Keyham in August 2021. A key part of that is dealing with backlogs in firearms applications in police forces nationwide, but especially here in Devon and Cornwall. The last government kicked reforms like this into the long grass, so I am pleased the new Policing Minister has got straight to work with vital changes to gun laws. We are a step closer to ensuring that a tragedy like Keyham’s never happens again.”

The reforms follow mandatory training introduced in November 2024 for firearms licensing officers across all police forces. The training, spurred by campaigning from Pollard and the Keyham community, aims to address systemic failures.

In 2023, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) criticised Devon and Cornwall Police for their “extraordinarily high reliance” on temporary firearm licenses, calling for an immediate halt to the practice.

Currently, the fee for renewing a shotgun certificate, the most common type of application, is £49 for five years, while police incur an average cost of £126 per application, according to Home Office data. Full cost recovery will apply to all firearms and shotgun certificates, dealer registrations, and visitor permits.

The Keyham shootings of August 2021 shocked the nation and reignited debate over firearms laws in the UK. The perpetrator, who killed five people, had previously had his gun confiscated following a violent incident but was later allowed to retrieve it due to what the coroner described as a “catastrophic failure” in licensing.

Since the tragedy, calls for reform have grown, including improved vetting, stronger oversight, and the reallocation of funds to firearms licensing departments.

In 2023/24, police forces processed 23,952 new firearms certificates and renewed 74,733. The cyclical nature of renewals means application volumes fluctuate, further demonstrating the need for streamlined, adequately funded systems.

By ensuring applicants pay the full cost of licensing, the legislation aims to provide police forces with the resources necessary to address backlogs, enhance decision-making, and strengthen public safety.

As the new regulations come into effect, they mark a significant step toward preventing future tragedies and ensuring robust oversight of firearms licensing across the UK.