A review over the cost of issuing gun licenses has been welcomed by the Staffordshire Commissioner.
The current system sees police forces lose money every time an application is processed as the fee does not fully cover the costs of vetting and carrying out checks.
In the West Midlands, the annual loss was around £230,000 last year, but for more rural forces with higher levels of gun ownership – like Staffordshire Police – this figure is even higher with the force accounting for 60% of the licences processed by the joint West Midlands and Staffordshire Firearms Licensing Unit.
But the Policing Minister Chris Philip has now confirmed that a review into the fees is taking place.
Staffordshire Commissioner Ben Adams said:
“Firearms licencing supports agriculture and the leisure industries – both vital contributors to the Staffordshire economy and to our rural communities.
“I am therefore eager that those wishing to licence a firearm receive a high-quality service which not only ensures continuity for those businesses which rely upon legitimate firearms use but also, vitally, provides reassurance that the wider community is protected from any risks.
“An effective licensing service, fully funded by those who use it, is the best way to meet the needs of our region’s firearms users and keep the public safe.”
Staffordshire Commissioner Ben Adams
The proposals for the new fees will be subject to a public consultation later this year, with the new levels expected to be introduced in the autumn.
