Following the recent publication of changes to the Home Office Statutory Guidance for the granting and renewal of certificates, applicants are now required, at their own expense, to obtain a GP report as part of this new application process.
It is now the responsibility of the applicant for both grant, renewal, or variation to complete and return their application without delay to the Firearms Licensing Unit. For both grants and renewal’s you must also complete the medical proforma and submit this to your GP.
Please allow plenty of time for you to obtain your GP report but please submit your application in advance of the GP report becoming available if necessary (to avoid further delays). The application will only be progressed upon receipt of both the application and GP report. Your application will placed as ‘pending’ and therefore not completed until we have received your GP report.
Please note: It is the responsibility of the applicant to arrange for information about their medical suitability to be provided by their General Practitioner (GP) or another suitably qualified doctor registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) to the police firearms licensing department dealing with their application. When the medical information is being provided to the police by a doctor from a private company, the doctor must receive the applicant’s medical information direct from the GP practice and not via the applicant.
We would strongly advise certificate holders to start the renewal process as soon as they receive the reminder renewal letter (we send these out 3 months prior to the certificate expiry date) or sooner. You will receive an 8 week extension only if you apply at least 8 weeks prior to expiry.
If your certificate expires and you are still in possession of your weapon(s) and you have not received an extension notification you will be committing an offence under the Firearms Act 1968 Section (1). This may affect any future certificate application that you may wish to make.
If you do not wish to renew your certificate and you do not possess any licensed guns, please advise Firearms Licensing of this via email prior to your expiry date. If you do not wish to renew your certificate but still have licensed guns in your possession, please ensure they are transferred to another certificate holder or to a registered firearms dealer before your expiry date and ensure you notify the Firearms Licensing Department of this prior to your expiry.
The Firearms Licensing department appreciates these changes may be inconvenient for many but would very much appreciate your efforts in complying with these changes. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your patience and co-operation throughout this process.
Please note it is your responsibility, as the applicant, to ensure the application and GP report is received by the Firearms Licensing Department without undue delay
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Renewal Applications. Renewal applications for Dorset are open. Please use our secure web form to submit your application. Please ensure you return your renewal application 8 weeks prior to the expiry date of your certificate. This will automatically add an extension of 8 weeks to the original certificate expiry date to ensure that you comply with legal requirements and remain in lawful possession of your guns and ammunition.
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Grant Applications - Grant applications for Dorset are open. Please use our secure web form to submit your application. Please be assured we are working as hard and fast as we can to process your applications. As your Grant progresses along the application stage we will contact you to arrange a visit / inspection. We are unable to give a timescale, however we aim to contact you as soon as you reach the appropriate stage. Any enquiries prior to being contacted should be made via email
- Firearm Variations - We are pleased to announce that suspension on Firearms Variations has now been removed and we are able to process your requests
No timescales other than those published on this website can be provided for any enquiry or application type at this time.
Telephone lines are open between 10:00 – 12:00pm Monday to Friday. Please use the above 'General Correspondence' Email address outside of these times.
The firearms licensing department acknowledges that these changes may cause some inconvenience however we appreciate your understanding and efforts to support us during these unprecedented times.
We aim to ensure that the law and guidance are implemented; to provide public safety and to support the use of legally owned firearms. To achieve this aim, all applicants will be subject to a vetting process to ensure that they are suitable to possess firearms, shotguns or explosives. Every effort will be made to provide an effective and efficient service to all certificate holders.
Thank you for your patience and co-operation, please take care and stay safe.