Guidance

User guide to statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates

This guide presents additional explanation on firearm and shotgun certificate statistics.

• From: Home Office
• Published: 7 November 2013
• Last updated: 18 June 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 18 June 2026

     Updated to accompany publication of 'Firearm and shotgun certificates, April 2025 to March 2026'.

  2. 19 June 2025

     Updated to accompany publication of 'Firearm and shotgun certificates, April 2024 to March 2025'.

  3. 27 June 2024

     Updated to accompany publication of ‘Firearm and shotgun certificates, April 2023 to March 2024’.

  4. 6 July 2023

     Updated to accompany publication of 'Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales: April 2022 to March 2023'.

  5. 7 July 2022

     Updated to accompany publication of 'Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales: April 2021 to March 2022'.

  6. 15 July 2021

     Updated to accompany publication of 'Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales: April 2020 to March 2021'. PDF user guide retired.

  7. 23 July 2020

     Updated to accompany publication of 'Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales: April 2019 to March 2020'.

  8. 27 June 2019

     Updated to accompany publication of 'Statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales: April 2018 to March 2019'.

  9. 5 July 2018

     Updated to accompany publication of 'Firearm and shotgun certificates in England and Wales, financial year ending 31 March 2018'.

  10. 6 July 2017

      Updated to accompany release of 'Firearm and shotgun certificates in England and Wales: financial year ending 2017'.

  11. 6 July 2016

      Updated 'User guide to firearm and shotgun certificate statistics'.

  12. 24 September 2015

      Updated to accompany 'Firearm and shotgun certificates in England and Wales financial year ending March 2015'.

  13. 7 August 2014

      Updated to accompany 'Firearm and shotgun certificates in England and Wales financial year ending March 2014'.

  14. 7 November 2013

      First published.

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

User guide to statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates, England and Wales

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Details

A useful reference guide with explanatory notes on firearm and shotgun certificate statistics.