Updated: Domestic violence chapter added.
These documents provide consolidated guidance on firearms licensing legislation. This guidance is not intended to be a definitive statement of the law, but a cohesive explanation of the often complex area of firearms licensing.
Since the guidance was last published in 2002 there have been a number of policy and legislative changes to firearms law and the guidance is currently being updated to reflect these changes. The guidance is being revised in batches and chapters on specific topics will be published below as they become available.
The first revised chapters provide guidance on the following:
- definition and classification of firearms and ammunition
- prohibited weapons and ammunition
- expanding ammunition
- restrictions on the possession, handling, and distribution of firearms and ammunition
- law on shooting birds and animals
- museum firearms licences
- criminal use of firearms
- proof of firearms
- Northern Ireland
Until new chapters have been published on other subject areas, reference should continue to be made to the 2002 version of the guidance, together with any subsequent advice issued by the Home Office. Future changes to firearms legislation or policy will be reflected through updating of the relevant chapter online, to ensure that the document remains up to date and readily accessible.