BASC lobbying PCCs on funds

Key shooting organisations have called on police and crime commissioners (PCCs) across the UK to use increased licensing fees (News, 22 January) to support firearms services. 

Licensing fees are set to increase from 5 February and BASC has contacted every PCC in England and Wales to seek assurances that the additional funds will be used to resource firearms licensing departments. 

BASC’s executive director of communications and public affairs, Christopher Graffius, said: “The Government’s justification for the increase is that the extra funds raised will go to support improvements in the work of firearms licensing departments, although they have no powers to ensure that this is what happens. 

“We have written to the officials responsible for setting the policing budget for their forces to seek their assurance that all funds raised from firearms licensing fees will be assigned to resourcing their firearms licensing departments.” 

BASC has also called on the Government to reconsider increasing fees and provide transparency and a balanced system that protects public safety without penalising lawful firearms owners (p34). The organisation continues to engage with senior policymakers and rural MPs to advocate for meaningful reforms.