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: 19 June 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

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

HTML

Details

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

Published 7 November 2013

Last updated 19 June 2025 + show all updates

1. 19 June 2025

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

2. 27 June 2024

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

3. 6 July 2023

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

4. 7 July 2022

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

5. 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.

6. 23 July 2020

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

7. 27 June 2019

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

8. 5 July 2018

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

9. 6 July 2017

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

10. 6 July 2016

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

11. 24 September 2015

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

12. 7 August 2014

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

13. 7 November 2013

    First published.