Firearms licensing newsletter - April 2026
Welcome to the April edition of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Firearms and Explosives Licensing newsletter. As we begin the new financial year, this edition provides an update on key areas of activity across the unit, including our continued engagement with local communities and stakeholders, improvements to customer contact through our telephone service, and the use of both local and national data to inform operational focus and performance.
Community engagement
Engaging with our communities remains a key priority for the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Firearms and Explosives Licensing (FEL) Department. In March, officers attended events to hear local concerns and strengthen relationships across our rural areas.
Inspector Ross Leopold and Detective Sergeant Chris Jones attended the North Herts Barn Meet on 25 March with colleagues from local policing and the Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner. They spoke with members of the rural and farming community about licensing processes, rural crime and the issues affecting firearm and shotgun certificate holders. Officers answered questions, reassured attendees about licensing processes and heard directly about the challenges faced by rural firearm and shotgun certificate holders.
Inspector Darren Gore attended the Cambridgeshire Countryside Watch AGM with Cambridgeshire Chief Constable Simon Megicks. The meeting provided an opportunity to engage with Countryside Watch members, recognise the role of rural communities in crime prevention and highlight the importance of responsible firearms ownership. Discussions focused on partnership working, information sharing and maintaining public confidence in firearms licensing.
In addition, Inspector Martin Eaton represented FEL at the Bedfordshire PCC Rural Crime Conference, joined by the Bedfordshire PCC and Chief Superintendent Taylor.
The conference brought together policing leaders, partners and rural community representatives to discuss emerging crime trends, shared challenges and opportunities to strengthen prevention and enforcement. FEL’s presence ensured firearms and explosives licensing formed part of the wider debate on community safety and rural criminality.
These engagements reflect FEL’s continued commitment to proactive community outreach across all three forces. By maintaining a visible presence at rural and countryside events, the FEL Department continues to improve understanding of licensing responsibilities and ensure community views help shape a safe, fair and effective firearms licensing service.
Telephone line update
As shared at the Independent Advisory Group meeting at the start of March, the team are pleased to confirm that the direct telephone line into the Firearms and Explosives Licensing office has now been re‑opened.
The telephone line is available Monday to Friday, between 10am and 12 noon (excluding Bank Holidays), and is intended for urgent or unusual enquiries.
Applicants, certificate holders and members of the public are encouraged to use the online reporting options available via the force websites wherever possible. Online submissions allow the team to triage and prioritise work effectively. Please also refer to the FAQs on the website for advice. We would like to reassure everyone that every online submission is read.
During the first month of operation, the team responded to over 100 calls, which we hope will be a welcome improvement in accessibility. Over the coming weeks, we will be exploring additional functionality to further improve efficiency and will provide updates through future editions of this newsletter.
The contact number is published on the relevant Force websites.
Local and national data
We are aware that stakeholders value transparent and consistent information on firearms and explosives licensing activity at both a local and national level. There are two key data sets published by the Home Office and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) which may be of interest.
These publications provide standardised data that is comparable across police forces, supporting a clear understanding of volumes, trends and performance nationally. They also offer helpful context for local activity, allowing forces to benchmark against wider national patterns.
We will continue to use these national data sources alongside our own local performance information to inform governance, support continuous improvement and provide assurance in this highly scrutinised service area. Links to the published data are available through Home Office and NPCC channels.