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Don’t reward failure in fees review, says BASC

Firearms licensing fees are up for review for the first time in eight years. Since 2014 some voices in the police and campaigners have called for changes to be made, including the full cost borne by the applicant, which would mean a steep rise in the fees if implemented.

BASC has cautioned against a pro forma rise as it said it would “reward failure”, which it highlights as the inconsistent service across the UK’s 45 territorial police forces, including the national forces in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The Home Office has launched the review and set up a fees working group to facilitate this. The group’s first meeting is scheduled for April and will include representatives from BASC and the British Shooting Sports Council.

BASC has outlined its key requirements for the review, which include the following:

• To follow the 2014 working group model of evidence-based costings

• To implement cost-saving efficiencies, such as the use of IT

• That the public purse should