The Firearms (Amendment) Rules 2025
The Firearms (Amendment) Rules 2025, effective August 5th, 2025, amend the Firearms Rules 1998 in England, Wales, and Scotland.
Key changes include increasing the required number of referees for shotgun certificate applications from one to two, and updating the application forms for firearm/shotgun certificates and firearms dealer registrations.
These new forms request information about neuro-developmental conditions and time spent abroad.
Transitional arrangements allow the use of older forms until September 5th, 2025.
Arguments For
Enhanced Safety: Increasing the number of referees for shotgun certificate applications may improve background checks and enhance public safety.
Improved Application Process: Updated application forms ensure consistent information gathering, improving efficiency and accuracy in processing applications.
Modernized Forms: New forms can accommodate the collection of modern information, such as neuro-developmental conditions.
Legal Basis: The amendments are made under the powers granted by sections 26A(1), 26B(1) and (2)(b) and 53(a) of the Firearms Act 1968.
Arguments Against
Increased Burden on Applicants: Requiring two referees may create obstacles for individuals seeking shotgun certificates, potentially disproportionately affecting certain groups.
Administrative Costs: Processing updated forms may increase administrative workload for police forces.
Unintended Consequences: Changes to application requirements may inadvertently affect those with neuro-developmental conditions.
Transitional challenges: The transitional arrangements require police to manage requests made under both old and new formats for a small window in time.
- Citation, commencement and extent (1) These Rules may be cited as the Firearms (Amendment) Rules 2025 and shall come into force on 5th August 2025. (2) These Rules extend to England and Wales and Scotland.
This section provides the official title and effective date of the rules (August 5th, 2025) and states their geographical scope: England, Wales, and Scotland.
- Amendments to the Firearms Rules 1998 (1) The Firearms Rules 1998 are amended as follows. (2) In rule 5 (shotgun certificates), for paragraph (3)(a) substitute— “(a) the names and addresses of two persons who have agreed to act as referees and”. (3) In rule 6 (referee: shotgun certificate), in the heading for “referee” substitute “referees”. (4) In Schedule 1 (form of application for firearm and shotgun certificates, and firearm certificate), for the form in Part I (application for the grant or renewal of a firearm and/or shotgun certificate) substitute the form in Schedule 1 to these Rules (application for the grant or renewal of a firearm and/or shotgun certificate). (5) In Schedule 5 (firearms dealers: forms of application, notification and registers), for the form in Part I (firearms dealers: application for registration or for new certificate of registration) substitute the form in Schedule 2 to these Rules (firearms dealers: application for registration or for new certificate of registration).
This section details specific amendments to the 1998 Firearms Rules.
It mandates a change in rule 5, increasing the number of required referees for shotgun certificates from one to two.
Rule 6's heading is updated to reflect this change.
Additionally, new forms, located in Schedules 1 and 2, replace the previous application forms for firearm/shotgun certificates and firearms dealer registration respectively.
- Transitional arrangements (1) The amendment made by rule 2(2) of these Rules has no effect in relation to an application for the grant or renewal of a shotgun certificate that is received on or before 5th September 2025 by the chief officer of police for the area in which the applicant resides. (2) An application for the grant or renewal of a firearm certificate or a shotgun certificate may continue to be made using the application form which is replaced by rule 2(4) if it is received on or before 5th September 2025 by the chief officer of police for the area in which the applicant resides. (3) An application for registration or for a new certificate of registration for firearms dealers may continue to be made using the application form which is replaced by rule 2(5) if it is received on or before 5th September 2025 by the chief officer of police for the area in which the applicant resides.
This section establishes transitional provisions.
Applications for shotgun certificates received by September 5th, 2025, are subject to the rules in effect prior to the amendment.
Similarly, applications for firearm certificates, shotgun certificates, and firearms dealer registration received by the same date may utilize the old application forms which were amended by rules 2(4) and 2(5) respectively.
Schedule 1 Application for the grant or renewal of a firearm and/or shotgun certificate [Images of Form 201, pages 1-34]
This schedule includes the new application form for firearm and/or shotgun certificates.
The form comprises 34 pages of detailed information and is too extensive to include the full text here.
Schedule 2 Firearms dealers: application for registration or for new certificate of registration [Images of Form 116, pages 1-18]
This schedule contains the revised application form for firearms dealers seeking registration or new certificates.
The form comprises 18 pages of detailed information and is too extensive to include the full text here.
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