Firearms Licensing Independent Advisory Group meeting minutes - 10 June 2026

Please see below the Firearms Licensing Independent Advisory Group meeting minutes for 10 June 2026:

1. Welcome and introductions

The Chair opened the meeting.  The previous meeting minutes were signed off. 

2. Matters arising

None.

3. FEL overview inclusive of:

• Resourcing
• Training
• Current Performance
• HMI recommendations being addressed

Key points:

• Moved to Backwards/Forwards Facing Teams model
• Funding from 3 x PCC’s to outsource Intel work to BCH Vetting
• Renewals Projection – Current rolling 28 day productivity data shows March 2027 to have caught up with renewals. Due to the busy summer period a more realistic prediction is Sept/Oct 2027.
• Temp Permits – Backward facing team focussing on reducing Temp Permits
• Grants – Static position due to peer review by Cheshire. Cheshire approved the project (Cambs) using rural support officers to carry out visits. 3 x DCC’s supportive of the process and will be formally agreed on Friday (12^th) with a view to roll out over the summer with Beds and Herts. This will improve productivity of grants for longevity.
• Refusal/Revocations/Appeals – following adopting a process where a conversation is held with the applicant/licence holder, appeals are being reduced. Due to increased productivity we have been able to use the resource in other areas of FEL.
• Complaints – due to phone lines being live and conversations with applicants the number of complaints has reduced.

Q&A/discussion summary

• Operational approach to enquiries and visits
• FEL confirmed a proportionate approach to customer contact (phone, video, or home visits), determined by risk/intelligence rather than a fixed model, to improve efficiency.
• National Firearms Licensing Management System (NFLMS) / Palantir
• BCH confirmed continued engagement with Palantir-supported processes, currently delivering efficiency savings.
• Position remains flexible, enabling BCH to influence system design or adopt at a later stage, dependent on national rollout.
• Future resourcing and operating model
• Members sought assurance that resourcing levels will be sustained post-backlog.
• FEL confirmed plans to analyse demand and align resourcing and finance with decisions required on the role of rural support teams and operating model design.
• Data transparency and insight
• Request made for more detailed data on refusals and revocations to support stakeholder understanding and preventative messaging
• FEL agreed to produce and return this data to the next meeting
• Backlog and demand management (grants vs renewals)
• No current forecast provided for grant applications due to dependency on embedding the rural support team model
• Commitment to a phased implementation approach across forces to ensure sustainable outcomes
• Communications with the public
• Strong feedback that public perception remains negative despite improvements, due to ongoing waiting times.
• FEL acknowledged this and outlined a communications plan, including:
• Website updates and improved messaging
• Clear guidance to applicants (e.g. not submitting renewals too early)
• Use of IAG members as ambassadors to support wider messaging
• Commitment to increase external communications activity
• Customer experience issues
• Concerns raise regarding:
• Inconsistent interim communications (e.g. email confirmations for overdue renewals)
• Confusion around documentation and proof of lawful possession
• FEL requested specific examples to review individual cases
• Prioritisation policy
• FEL confirmed continued prioritisation of applications linked to employment/business use, over recreational cases

4. Membership

The Chair led a discussion on the composition of the IAG and potential future membership, noting that current representation is largely drawn from shooting organisations. Members agreed there is a need to broaden representation to include external and non-shooting perspectives, in order to provide balanced scrutiny and align with IAG guidance. It was highlighted that engaging such stakeholders may be challenging, and consideration must be given to the suitability of informal groups and maintaining a manageable group size. It was agreed that a proposed list of potential members will be circulated to the group for review, with members invited to provide feedback and rationale for any objections, prior to progressing invitations on a consensus basis.

5. Case studies

Members raised interest in bringing forward case studies, however sensitive or active cases will be managed outside the public forum.

Chief Insp. Chris Savage presented anonymised case studies to support discussion on suitability, consistency, and decision-making principles

Case studies included in FEL IAG Presentation slide show

6. AOB

1. Members highlighted a potential issue with single Online Home submissions, where applications may appear successfully submitted to the applicant but are not received by the force due to file size or system limitations; it was confirmed that this is a known issue with a manual workaround currently in place and being addressed nationally.
2. Concerns were also raised regarding delays in background checks for new club members, with some taking several months; however, it was noted that performance is variable and is being monitored within existing performance frameworks with a commitment to improve turnaround times.

7. Date of next meeting

7 September 2026, 10am to 12pm at Hertfordshire Police HQ, Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City.