NAReS is aware of a report by HMICFRS published today, Friday 28th August, 2026, into firearms licensing in England and Wales, and will be monitoring the report and its recommendations that have been submitted to the Home Office for consideration.

Over the past months His Majesties Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services  (HMICFRS) have been carrying out an in-depth inspection of firearms licensing across police forces in England and Wales. This morning, (Friday), they published a 77 page report which contained 23 recommendations. Many of the recommendations are procedural however some of them, if agreed by the Home Office, with have a profound effect on firearms users within re-enactment (and other users). The purpose of this email is to inform the EC members that I am fully aware of the report, and its contents, and will be monitoring its progress. It should be noted that the recommendations in the report will need to be agreed by the Home Office, and in some cases, by Parliament itself, so it will take some time to see the full effect.