1. Introduction

This release presents statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates issued by police forces in England and Wales under the Firearms Acts 1968 to 1997. It covers certificates on issue as at 31 March 2016, as well as historical trend data and police force comparisons. The release also provides information on certificates granted and refused for new and renewal applications, certificates revoked, registered firearm dealers, visitors’ permits, European firearm passes (EFP) and Article 7 Authorities issued.

Following user feedback and a number of recent data requests, this release contains new ‘experimental statistics’. These are statistics that are in the testing phase and which have not been fully developed as yet.

Section 8 contains the new experimental statistics on the number of people who hold a firearm certificate and/or shotgun certificate broken down by age and gender. As one person can have more than one certificate, the figures provide information on the actual number of firearm and/or shotgun certificate holders. Section 8 also includes experimental statistics on the breakdown of firearm and shotgun types. To add greater context to the statistics and to highlight the fact that not all firearms/shotguns classified as such discharge ammunition, also included are figures on sound moderators.1

The new experimental statistics should be treated with caution as they are still being developed and have not been subjected to the same levels of quality assurance as the other figures in this publication. As the Home Office continues to report on these new figures in future years, it will aim to develop its quality assurance procedures, with a view to increasing confidence in the quality of the data.

The statistics in this release were extracted from the National Firearms Licensing Management System (NFLMS) which is a register of all people who have applied for, or have been granted, a certificate to possess or acquire a firearm or shotgun.

The user guide provides additional information on this release. It includes the coverage of the data, a glossary of terms and information on the conventions used in the statistics, legislation and regulations.

No force made revisions to any of their data for previous years. The data for the latest year (and for previous years) may be revised in due course. It is standard practice across all Home Office statistical releases to incorporate revisions for previous years’ data in the latest release. Corrections and revisions follow the Home Office corporate revisions policy.

2. Headline figures

Data extracted from the National Firearms Licensing Management System (NFLMS) on firearm and shotgun certificates issued by police forces in England and Wales show that:

Firearm certificates

there were 153,404 firearm certificates as at 31 March 2016; a decrease of 0.1% (-199) compared with the previous year.

there were 539,194 firearms (covered by firearm certificates) as at 31 March 2016; an increase of 2.7% (14,069) compared with the previous year.

of the 9,755 new applications for firearm certificates in the year to 31 March 2016, 97.7% (9,534) were granted and 2.3% (221) were refused.

a total of 396 firearms certificates were revoked in the year to 31 March 2016; a decrease of 2.5% (-10) compared with the previous year.

Shotgun certificates

there were 567,015 shotgun certificates as at 31 March 2016; a decrease of 2.7% (-15,479) compared with the previous year.

there were 1,331,563 shotguns (covered by shotgun certificates) as at 31 March 2016; a decrease of 0.5% (-6,836) compared with the previous year.

of the 22,596 new applications for shotgun certificates in the year to 31 March 2016, 96.8% (21,884) were granted and 3.2% (712) were refused.

a total of 1,349 shotgun certificates were revoked in the year to 31 March 2016; a decrease of 1.7% (-24) compared with the previous year.

Experimental statistics

As at 1 April 2016, 587,681 people held a firearm and/or shotgun certificate, 153,168 people held a firearm certificate and 566,085 people held a shotgun certificate.

Of the 1,870,757 firearms and shotguns (covered by firearm/shotgun certificates) as at 31 March 2016, 8.9% (166,115) were sound moderators1 2 3.

3. Firearm certificates

3.1 Number of firearm certificates and firearms covered by such certificates

There were 153,404 firearm certificates as at 31 March 2016, a decrease of 0.1% (-199) compared with the previous year (153,603), which was the highest number of firearm certificates since 1988 (155,400).

Police forces with the highest number of firearms certificates as at 31 March 2016 were Devon and Cornwall (10,971), Sussex (6,894) and North Yorkshire (6,691). Police forces with the lowest number were City of London (3), Merseyside (1,029) and Cleveland (1,114).

There were 539,194 firearms (covered by firearm certificates) as at 31 March 2016 representing an increase of 2.7% (14,069) compared with the previous year.

The number of firearms per 100,000 people4 as at 31 March 2016 was highest in North Yorkshire (2,604), Cumbria (2,312) and Dyfed-Powys (2,304). This corresponds with police forces with the highest number of firearms/shotguns per 100,000 people tending to be in more rural areas, where the population is often lower and firearms/shotguns are more frequently used for employment (for example gamekeeping and farming) and leisure activities (for example target shooting and game shooting). Police forces with the lowest number of firearms per 100,000 people were City of London (173), Metropolitan Police Service (207) and West Midlands (305).

The average number of firearms per certificate as at 31 March 2016 was 3.5; an increase of 0.1 compared with the previous year.

Figure 1: Firearm certificates as at 31 March 2006 to 2016, England and Wales

Chart notes

1. Data as at 31 March 2007 are not available due to the transition from in-force data collection systems to the National Firearms Licensing Management System.

Source: Home Office, Table 1.

3.2 New applications, renewals and revocations

There were 9,534 new firearm certificate applications granted in the year to 31 March 2016 representing an increase of 5.3% (481) compared with the previous year.

Of the 9,755 new applications for firearm certificates in the year to 31 March 2016, 2.3% (221) were refused. This compares with 2.0% (188) which were refused in the previous year.

There were 29,799 firearm certificate renewal applications in the year to 31 March 2016, of which 29,741 (99.8%) were granted and 58 (0.2%) were refused.

Firearm certificates can be revoked if the chief police officer for the force concerned is satisfied that the holder can no longer be entrusted with firearms in accordance with the Firearms Act 1968. A total of 396 firearm certificates were revoked in the year to 31 March 2016, down slightly from 406 in the previous year.

4. Shotgun certificates

4.1 Number of shotgun certificates and shotguns covered by such certificates

There were 567,015 shotgun certificates as at 31 March 2016 representing a decrease of 2.7% (-15,479) compared with the previous year (582,494). The most recent peak as at 31 March 2014 (582,923) was the highest number of shotgun certificates since 31 December 2000 (602,500).

Police forces with the highest number of shotgun certificates as at 31 March 2016 were Devon and Cornwall (31,139), Metropolitan Police Service (26,267) and West Mercia (26,028). Police forces with the lowest number were City of London (25), Cleveland (2,737) and Merseyside (3,569).

There were 1,331,563 shotguns (covered by shotgun certificates) as at 31 March 2016 representing a decrease of 0.5% (-6,836) compared with the previous year.

The number of shotguns per 100,000 people4 as at 31 March 2016 was highest in Dyfed-Powys (6,822), Norfolk (6,504) and Suffolk (5,811). This corresponds with police forces with the highest number of firearms/shotguns per 100,000 people tending to be in the more rural areas, where the population is often lower and firearms/shotguns are more frequently used for employment (for example gamekeeping and farming) and leisure activities (for example clay shooting and game shooting). Police forces with the lowest number of shotguns per 100,000 people were City of London (520), Merseyside (556) and Metropolitan Police Service (582).

The average number of shotguns per certificate as at 31 March 2016 was 2.3, unchanged from the previous year.

Figure 2: Shotgun certificates, as at 31 March 2006 to 2016, England and Wales

Chart notes

1. Data as at 31 March 2007 are not available due to the transition from in-force data collection systems to the National Firearms Licensing Management System.

Source: Home Office, Table 3.

4.2 New applications, renewals and revocations

There were 21,884 new shotgun certificate applications granted in the year to 31 March 2016 representing a 2.1% increase (446) compared with the previous year.

Of the 22,596 new applications for shotgun certificates in the year to 31 March 2016, 3.2% (712) were refused. This compares with 2.9% (629) which were refused in the previous year.

There were 89,966 shotgun certificate renewal applications, of which 89,804 (99.8%) were granted and 162 (0.2%) were refused.

Shotgun certificates can be revoked if the chief police officer for the force concerned is satisfied that the holder can no longer be entrusted with shotguns, in accordance with the Firearms Act 1968. A total of 1,349 shotgun certificates were revoked in the year to 31 March 2016, down slightly from 1,373 in the previous year.

5. Firearm dealers

There were 3,452 registered firearm dealers in England and Wales as at 31 March 2016. This represents an increase of 0.9% (30) compared with the previous year but is still lower than the recent high of 3,496 as at 31 March 2013.

Figure 3: Registered firearm dealers as at 31 March 2006 to 2016, England and Wales

Chart notes

1. Data as at 31 March 2007 are not available due to the transition from in-force data collection systems to the National Firearms Licensing Management System.

Source: Home Office, Table 6.

6. Visitors’ permits

Visitors’ permits allow visitors to England and Wales to possess a firearm, shotgun or ammunition without holding a firearm or shotgun certificate. Permits are in force for a period not exceeding 12 months.

In the year to 31 March 2016, a total of 1,718 people were covered by individual or group visitors’ permits for firearms representing an increase of 0.4% (6) compared with the previous year. There were 7,091 people covered by individual or group visitors’ permits for shotguns representing an increase of 0.8% (58) compared with the previous year. The number of people covered by individual or group visitors’ permits for firearms and shotguns has remained fairly stable since the 2012 high of 3,399 for firearms and 8,075 for shotguns. These figures were likely to be related to the shooting events in the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic games.

Figure 4: Visitors’ permits, year to 31 March 2006 to 2016, England and Wales

Chart notes

1. Data as at 31 March 2007 are not available due to the transition from in-force data collection systems to the National Firearms Licensing Management System.

Source: Home Office, Table 8.

7. European firearms passes and Article 7 Authorities

The European firearms pass (EFP) is a firearms passport for EU residents intending to take their firearm or shotgun to another EU state. Article 7 of the Weapons Directive requires any EU resident wanting to purchase certain types of firearms, or ammunition for such firearms, outside their state of residence to have the prior authority of their own state.

As at 31 March 2016, 15,677 EFPs were on issue in England and Wales representing a decrease of 2.2% (-345) compared with the previous year.

Eight applications by firearm or shotgun certificate holders for Article 7 Authorities were granted in the year to 31 March 2016, compared with five in the previous year.

8. Experimental Statistics

8.1 Introduction

Following user feedback and a number of recent data requests, this section provides new ‘experimental statistics’ which are series of statistics that are in the testing phase and which have not been fully developed as yet.

The section includes experimental statistics on the number of people who hold a firearm certificate and/or shotgun certificate broken down by age and gender. These figures were extracted from the National Firearms Licensing Management System (NFLMS) on 1 April 2016, compared with the rest of the figures in this publication which were extracted on the 31 March 2016. As one person can have more than one certificate, the figures provide information on the actual number of firearm and/or shotgun certificate holders.

The section also includes new experimental statistics on the breakdown of firearm and shotgun types. Firearms can be categorised as rifles5, handguns6, muzzle-loading handguns7, section 1 shotguns8, and other firearm types. Shotguns can be categorised as section 2 shotguns9 and other shotgun types. In addition, figures on sound moderators1 have been included in this section to add greater context to the statistics and to highlight that not all firearms/shotguns classified as such discharge ammunition. The firearm and shotgun type breakdowns were extracted from the NFLMS on 31 March 2016 whilst figures on sound moderators were extracted from the NFLMS on 1 April 2016.

These new experimental statistics should be treated with caution as they are still being developed and have not been subjected to the same levels of quality assurance as the other figures in this publication. As the Home Office continues to report on these new figures in future years, it will aim to develop its quality assurance procedures, with a view to increasing confidence in the quality of the data.

This is the first year in the series for these experimental statistics so year on year comparison has not been possible.

8.2 People who hold a firearm and/or shotgun certificate

There were 587,681 people who held a firearm and/or shotgun certificate as at 1 April 2016.

Of those for whom gender was recorded on the NFLMS (99.8% of all people): 94.5% (554,113) were male; 0.7% (3,938) were aged 17 years and under; 72.3% (423,861) were aged 18 to 64 years; and 27.1% (158,726) were aged 65 years and over.

Figure 5: Firearm and/or shotgun certificate holders as at 31 March 2016, by age, England and Wales

Chart notes

1. Whilst the number of people aged 13 and under appears to be 0, there were in fact 313 people.

Source: Home Office, Table E2.

8.3 People who hold a firearm certificate

There were 153,168 people who held a firearm certificate as at 1 April 2016. Of those for whom gender was recorded on the NFLMS (99.9% of all people): 96.8% (148,063) were male; 0.3% (415) were aged 17 years and under; 75.3% (115,161) were aged 18 to 64 years; and 24.4% (37,364) were aged 65 years and over.

8.4 People who hold a shotgun certificate

There were 566,085 people who held a shotgun certificate as at 1 April 2016. Of those for whom gender was recorded on the NFLMS (99.8% of all people): 94.6% (534,477) were male; 0.7% (3,850) were aged 17 years and under; 72.5% (409,380) were aged 18 to 64 years; and 26.9% (151,737) were aged 65 years and over.

8.5 Weapons breakdown for firearm certificates

Of the 539,194 firearms (covered by firearm certificates) as at 31 March 2016, rifles accounted for 58.5% (315,308) whilst 32.2% (173,732) were other firearm types. Section 1 shotguns, handguns, muzzle-loading handguns, and firearms for which no type was recorded on the NFLMS accounted for the remaining 9.3% (50,154).

8.6 Weapons breakdown for shotgun certificates

Of the 1,331,563 shotguns (covered by shotgun certificates) as at 31 March 2016, section 2 shotguns accounted for 99.6% (1,326,534) whilst 0.3% (3,921) were other shotgun types. Shotguns for which no type was recorded on the NFLMS accounted for the remaining 0.1% (1,108).

8.7 Sound moderators

Of the 1,870,757 firearms and shotguns (covered by firearm/shotgun certificates) as at 31 March 2016, sound moderators accounted for 8.9% (166,115).2 3

Footnotes