As you will likely know, legislation was recently passed that removed the requirement to record sound moderators on a certificate.  Section 44 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which amends the 1968 Firearms Act, commences today, 29 June 2026, and this means that sound moderators will not be required to be covered by a certificate.  

A pioneering new partnership involving a host of organisations representing farming, gamekeeping, mental health, field sports and target shooting has been established in Scotland to build awareness and understanding of health and wellbeing in relation to firearms licensing.

On 18 May 2026, the Home Office published the updated version of its non-statutory guidance on firearms licensing law.  

On Thursday, 14 May 2026, the UK government published Circular 001/2026: Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 2026 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/circular-0012026-firearms-variation-of-fees-order-2026), which details an increase in firearms licensing fees from 4 June 2026.  

The recent consultation launched by the UK Government seeks views on changes to Part 1, Schedule 2 (2.1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA). Schedule 2.1 sets out which wild bird species may be killed or taken outside the “close season”.

The Minister has stated that a consultation on firearms licensing-related matters will take place in due course. There is no time scale.

The non-statutory guidance has been reviewed, and the updated version will be published shortly.  The Home Office security guidance is also being refreshed.  

The Policing and Crime Act 2026, which includes the removal of sound moderators from certification, received Royal Assent on 30 April 2026.  

Our friends at Gamekeepers Welfare Trust are inviting SACS members to a fantastic evening on 15th May in Kelso.

The Northern Ireland Department of Justice is consulting on plans to raise firearms licensing fees and change the banded system.

‘Current management advice is not sufficiently precautionary. If stocks remain at their current low levels, all sectors may face closure to harvest—not as a result of regulation, but through stock collapse’

They explore the potential need for bag returns in shooting wild game species. This conversation began around the subject of two grouse species - black grouse and ptarmigan, both of which can still be shot, despite the fact that they have a recent history of decline (and in the case of ptarmigan, population data is surprisingly scanty and difficult to determine).

DEFRA have published a consultation seeking views on proposed changes to Part 1, Schedule 2 (2.1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA). Schedule 2.1 sets out which wild bird species may be killed or taken outside the “close season”.

The UK government has now published The REACH (Amendment) Regulations 2026, which set out restrictions on the use of lead ammunition.

We have been made aware that a UK Government amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill was published on 17 February which will remove sound moderators from firearms licensing controls and the requirement to be on the certificate and approved by police forces.

Talks have been ongoing with the Scottish Government in respect of the removal of relief in the recent Scottish budget.  We have highlighted our concerns in previous news articles.

Within the Local government finance circular 1/2026: settlement for 2026 to 2027 issued by Scottish Ministers to local authorities, at Paragraph 29 it states;

29. Shootings and deer forests will be however excluded from eligibility for Small Business Bonus Scheme relief from 1 April 2026, except where a) shooting rights are exercised solely for the purposes of deer management, including to prevent damage to woodland or to agricultural production, environmental management or vermin control

As previously highlighted, there was no consultation with rural agencies by Ministers, which has led to widespread confusion and concern.  With our partners in RELM, we are still awaiting definitive answers to the queries we submitted to the Scottish Government.

As you will likely be aware, the Home Office, at the Home Secretary's behest, is due to launch a consultation on firearm licensing, likely in the first half of 2026.

As you will know, the Home Office indicated some time ago that it will be holding a consultation on firearms licensing in light of the Keyham tragedy and the reports subsequently issued by the Coroner, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and a separate report from the Scottish Affairs Committee.

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) are carrying out a thematic inspection of the firearms licensing system across police forces in England and Wales.