Statutory guidance

Statutory guidance for police on firearms licensing

Guidance to help police chiefs carry out checks when assessing someone's suitability to own firearms or become a registered firearms dealer.

• From: Home Office
• Published: 20 October 2021
• Last updated: 14 February 2023 — See all updates

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

Statutory guidance for chief officers of police on firearms licensing (revised February 2023) (accessible version)

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Statutory guidance for chief officers of police on firearms licensing (revised February 2023)

PDF, 446 KB, 42 pages

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Impact assessment: medical checks in the statutory guidance for firearms (accessible version)

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Impact assessment: medical checks in the statutory guidance for firearms

PDF, 384 KB, 13 pages

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Impact assessment: medical checks in the statutory guidance for firearms (Welsh) (accessible version)

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Impact assessment: medical checks in the statutory guidance for firearms (Welsh)

PDF, 296 KB, 13 pages

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Details

This is the revised version of the original statutory guidance which first came into effect on 1 November 2021. This version supersedes the original guidance.

It includes new sections on social media checks and referees, medical checks and temporary permits for firearms licensing.

Published 20 October 2021
Last updated 14 February 2023 + show all updates

1. 14 February 2023

   Updated the statutory guidance with the revised February 2023 version which supersedes the guidance issued in November 2021. The revised guidance includes new sections on social media checks and referees, medical checks and temporary permits for firearms licensing.

2. 16 December 2021

   Added Welsh versions of 'Statutory guidance for chief officers of police on firearms licensing' and 'Impact assessment: medical checks in the statutory guidance for firearms'.

3. 1 November 2021

   Added final version of the statutory guidance.

4. 20 October 2021

   First published.