If you would like to own your own rifle for deer stalking, you will need to apply for a firearms certificate which is issued by your local police constabulary. Firearms certificates allow an individual to possess, buy or acquire a firearm and ammunition.
For the uninitiated, applying for the first time for a UK firearms certificate can seem a daunting idea.
The information contained in this article specifically relates to deer stalkers who would like to apply for a deer legal rifle and explains the terminology used within firearms licensing/the industry and identifies the things you need to put in place before making an application.
Terminology
Firearms licensing is a somewhat intricate and confusing subject which uses terminology that people often find a little bit confusing to understand or comprehend. Listed below are of the common terms explained.
Each police force’s firearms department employ a number of Firearms enquiry officers (FEO’s). Following a Firearms certificate application, you will be assigned an FEO who will be your first point of contact going forward. Along with assisting with any queries you may have, they will also arrange a home visit to see what firearms security you have in place, discuss your application and establish your suitability to acquire, possess and lawfully use firearms.
To acquire or possess firearms or ammunition under Section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968, you must provide evidence that you have a good reason to do so. This applies to the grant, renewal or variation of a firearm certificate. ‘Good reason’ can take several forms, such as proof that you have permission to shoot over land with a population of deer or that you are an active member of a home office approved target shooting club.
A coterminous certificate is when the police issue both a firearm and shotgun certificate at the same time. When applying/renewing there is the option to request this and because its more efficient for the police to administer there is a significant reduction in fees.
Applying for, renewing or varying an existing firearm or shotgun certificate all attract a range of fees. An up-to-date list of fees can be viewed here
Firearms certificates are granted for a five-year period. If you want to retain your firearms, you will need to go online and apply for a renewal. Renewals attract a lower fee than when you first apply for a license. Most police forces advise applying for a renewal up to 6 months before your old certificate expires to allow time to process.
There are two types of variation (both need to be applied for); ‘like for like’ which is free of charge and is for people who have sold/disposed of a firearm and who would like to acquire another rifle of the same calibre/type, and a standard variation of the certificate to allow for the acquisition of more rifle calibres and /or ammunition.
This is land that has been inspected by the police and has been passed as suitable for a particular calibre e.g .308. People who have the restrictive condition on their licence to shooting quarry on ‘land deemed suitable by the chief officer of police, for the area in which the land is situated’ can only shoot that calibre (or smaller) on said land.
All firearms certificates issued by the police have a number of conditions under which they grant the licence. These range from what to do if you lose your certificate to making sure your firearms/ammunition are not accessible by unauthorised people. When your first certificate is granted, there is, more often than not, a condition that restricts the use of your firearm to only shooting lawful quarry on ‘land deemed suitable by the chief officer of police, for the area in which the land is situated’. This means that any land which you have permission to shoot over must also be approved by the police for the area in which the land is located before any shooting can take place. If or when this condition is changed (usually after 5 years on your first renewal) it will most likely be replaced with a phrase such as ‘land over which the holder has lawful authority to shoot’. This allows the holder to shoot any land he has permission to shoot over without needing to seek police approval and is commonly referred to as an ‘open’ licence.
Before you make a firearms application
Before you sit down to make an online application, there are a number of things you will need to action, namely get a doctor’s form completed and install a gun cabinet(s). There are also things to consider (such as what rifles you need and for what purpose) as well as other information you will be required to submit.
Medical fitness is one of the factors police must consider when assessing a person’s suitability. Have to hand details of any relevant conditions you have, which must be disclosed – see list here. Your GP or practice address, postcode and phone number and previous GP or practice information if you haven’t been registered with your current GP or practice for ten years or more. You will also need to have a completed form from your GP which you can download here. GP’s can take up to a month to complete the form and will usually charge a fee. Make sure to turn the form into a digital format to be able to upload on the FAC application.
Email address, phone number, work contact details (if not unemployed or retired) and your address (or previous addresses if you haven’t lived at your current address for more than five years).
You will need to have installed an ‘approved safe/cabinet’ or have a strong room suitable to store the number of guns you are applying for. The bolt and ammunition need to be stored separately and can be in an internal locked compartment in the gun safe or most people opt for a separate safe/cabinet solely for storage of the bolt and ammunition. Cabinets need to be securely attached to the wall/floor and preferably hidden from sight.
These include speeding but not parking offences or fixed penalty notices. You will need details of the offence, including the date (month and year).
You will need a list of calibres you would like and a good reason for needing them. For example, you might apply for a 6.5mm Creedmoor for target shooting, a .308 for deer stalking and .17 HMR for fox and rabbit control. Moderators are deemed a firearm component so these need to be listed too. You should also consider how much ammunition you will need – if you’re only deer stalking 200 rounds is plenty, however if you intend on doing some target shooting 4 – 500 rounds would be a reasonable quantity.
When applying for a firearm certificate, you will need the permission of two people to act as referees for you. The referee(s) must have known you personally for at least two years and must be resident in Great Britain. A referee must not be a member of your immediate family, a registered firearms dealer, a serving police officer, a police employee, a Police and Crime Commissioner or a member of their staff, or a member of staff of the Scottish Police Authority. Referees must be of good character and any references they agree to provide must be given freely and not on payment. You will need the following information: date and place of birth, their occupation and contact details.
You will need a digital photograph no larger than 1 MB in size. Photographs must be of a professional standard, against a plain cream or grey background and without other objects or people in the background. The photograph must be a true likeness and full face without a head covering (unless it is worn for religious or medical reasons). In your photograph you must be looking straight at the camera, have a neutral expression, with your eyes open and mouth closed. You must not wear sunglasses or tinted glasses, and the photographs must not have any ‘red eye.’ The company Timpson’s found on most high streets/near supermarkets can supply you with an appropriate digital photo to upload.
You will need to demonstrate that over a period of time you have experience of deer stalking and despatching deer in the UK. This can be discussed with your FEO or better, ask whoever you’ve been out deer stalking with to write you a letter confirming your experience with them. If you have been out deer stalking with the Deer HUB, contact us for a reference letter.
You will be expected to have completed a training course to prove you have a basic understanding of deer stalking, firearm ownership, use, safety and legislation. There are various routes available to satisfy this requirement. Courses attended should have issued you with a certificate which can be uploaded on the application form or shown to your FEO when they visit. The Deer HUB offers a comprehensive deer stalkers Foundation Skills Course which you can use as proof of training in this area.
The application form with ask you for details of any private land or home office approved club land where you will be using your firearm(s). For private land you’ll need to provide: landowner contact details, description of the land, including size, reason you wish to shoot on the land and information on whether the land has been authorised by the police for the calibre of rifle you intend to use on it. For a shooting club you’ll need to provide: the club name, details of the nominated officer and the Home Office approval number. All Deer HUB memberships include land approval for calibres up to .30 cal. – contact the office for a land approval letter which you can upload on the form.
Payment is taken online during the application process so be sure to have your credit or debit card details to hand to make the online payment.
Applying for your Firearms Certificate
Now you should have all the information required to make an application. You will need to go online and locate your local police Firearms Licensing department. For example, if you live in Surrey – search the internet with the search term ‘Surrey Firearms Licensing’ and you will find a page with information about how to apply for a Firearm certificate.
Good luck with your application! If you have all the information to hand, the application process should take approximately 30 minutes. Be sure to provide all the information requested, as an incomplete application could cause a delay or at worse be rejected altogether.
After the application – What happens next?
After applying for a Firearm certificate, your application will be processed and background checks carried out which can take some time. Once the checks are completed, your Firearms Enquiry officer will contact you. If there is an issue(s) with your application, they will discuss this with you and/or arrange for a home visit. The home visit is to check what firearms security you have in place, to discuss your application and to assess your suitability to own a firearm. If everything is in order and your application accepted, your police firearms licensing authority will send you your certificate in the post. How long does the process take? Each police authority is different, and it depends on a number of factors. Most police forces quote 24 weeks which in our experience is a good rule of thumb.
On receipt of your new Firearms certificate, be sure to read it carefully. If you find an error or something you don’t understand, contact your FEO immediately. If all is in order, sign the document and you’re ready to go!!
The Deer HUB is the Go-To place for all things deer stalking, offering best in class training, courses and mentored deer stalking all over the south of England. If you have read this article and would like further assistance or advice on applying for a Firearms Certificate, please call James Mott directly on 0203 995 5881 / 0789 4146643 or email james@deerstalkinghub.co.uk