Firearms certificates (FOI Ref: 736A/25)
Request
I would like to request information under the Freedom of Information Act concerning the issuing of firearms certificates and inspections over the past five years.
I would like to know the number of firearms certificates issued over the past five years.
The number of new certificates issued.
The number of inspections. Can I have this broken down to inspections of new firearms certificate applications and renewal applications.
Can I have figures for the number of applications and refusals.
Also, could I have information on the number of firearms offences investigated by your force where the weapon was legally held (or had a firearms certificate).
Can i also find out the number of legally held firearms reported stolen over that period.
Can you break down the number of firearms held by type?
We clarified with you on 7th April 2025 and you responded on 14th April 2025.
Your amended request reads:
In clarification, can I get the data for the years 2019-2024.
Over this period, I would like to know the number of new certificates issued broken down by year.
The number of certificates renewed.
The number of inspections. Can I have this broken down to inspections of new firearms certificate applications and renewal applications.
Can I have figures for the number of applications and refusals.
Can i also find out the number of legally held firearms reported stolen over that period.
Can you break down the number of firearms held by type? (such as handgun, shotgun, rifle etc)
Response
Our data is not organised in such a way as to allow us to provide this information within the appropriate (cost) limit within the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act (see ‘Reason for Decision’ below).
Although excess cost removes the force’s obligations under the Freedom of Information Act, as a gesture of goodwill I have supplied information, relative to your request, retrieved before it was realised that the fees limit would be exceeded (see enclosed). I trust this is helpful, but it does not affect our legal right to rely on the fee’s regulations for the remainder of the request.
Q1. The number of new certificates issued broken down by year.
Q2The number of certificates renewed.
Certificates Issued
Calendar year 2019, Renewals - Section 1 - 254, Section 2 - 535, New Grants - Section 1 - 119 - Section 2 – 367.
Calendar year 2020, Renewals - Section 1 - 316, Section 2 – 1,392, New Grants - Section 1 - 97 - Section 2 – 148.
Calendar year 2021, Renewals - Section 1 - 271, Section 2 – 1,267, New Grants - Section 1 - 92 - Section 2 – 366.
Calendar year 2022, Renewals - Section 1 - 245, Section 2 – 1,007, New Grants - Section 1 - 97 - Section 2 – 271.
Calendar year 2023, Renewals - Section 1 - 367, Section 2 – 999, New Grants - Section 1 - 112 - Section 2 – 258.
Calendar year 2024, Renewals - Section 1 - 310, Section 2 – 813, New Grants - Section 1 - 120 - Section 2 – 246.
Q3. The number of inspections. Can I have this broken down to inspections of new firearms certificate applications and renewal applications.
To know the correct numbers relating to home inspection we would have to check all the files relating to the ‘certificate issued’ above (5 minutes each check), this will no doubt trigger the 18 hour rule. All new grants will be inspected.
Q4. Can I have figures for the number of applications and refusals.
Refusals
Calendar year 2019, Refusals - Section 1 - 6, Section 2 - 15.
Calendar year 2020, Refusals - Section 1 - 2, Section 2 - 9.
Calendar year 2021, Refusals - Section 1 - 4, Section 2 - 14.
Calendar year 2022, Refusals - Section 2 - 3, Section 2 - 14.
Calendar year 2023, Refusals - Section 2 - 8, Section 2 - 13.
Calendar year 2024, Refusals - Section 2 - 8, Section 2 - 15.
Q5. Can I also find out the number of legally held firearms reported stolen over that period?
We are unable to state whether the firearm was held illegally / legally (however it is highly unlikely that an illegal one would get reported). To locate this accurate data would mean an individual search of each record then cross referenced with a different department to see if the person reporting was a legal holder. This will exceed the 18 hours for the purpose of the FOI Act.
|
Year |
Number |
|
2019 |
9 |
|
2020 |
11 |
|
2021 |
18 |
|
2022 |
13 |
|
2023 |
17 |
|
2024 |
7 |
|
Total |
75 |
There are more weapons than reports above as there will have been more than one weapon in a single report.
|
Weapon Description |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
Total |
|
Air pistol |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Air rifle |
3 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
|
Air weapon |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
12 |
|
Antique |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Ball bearing gun |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
8 |
|
Blow gun |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Cs spray can |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
|
Deactivated firearm |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Handgun conventional |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Imitation |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
Imitation handgun |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Machine gun |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Other airsoft |
0 |
0 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
13 |
|
Rifle |
1 |
1 |
8 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
18 |
|
Shotgun |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
|
Shotgun (sawn) |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Silencer |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
Stun gun |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Not stated |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
Total |
10 |
11 |
24 |
14 |
21 |
12 |
92 |
Q6. Can you break down the number of firearms held by type? (such as handgun, shotgun, rifle etc)
See above.
Reason for decision
Please note that researching each individual case would exceed the appropriate limit (FOIA, s.12).
The cost of compliance with the whole of your request is above the amount to which we are legally required to respond, i.e. the cost of locating and retrieving the information would exceed the appropriate costs limit under section 12(1) of the FOI Act 2000. For West Midlands Police, the appropriate limit is set at £450, as prescribed by the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004, S.I. 3244.
Further information on section 12 of FOI is available here: