Firearms Licence and Shotgun Certificate Statistics 2020 to 2023
Publication Number: 1537
FOI Number: 19134
Information Request
For the calendar years 2020, 2021, 2022 and for 2023 to date, could you please tell me:
1. How many firearm licence holders in force area currently?
2020:
2021:
2022:
2023:
2. How many shotgun certificate holders in force area currently?
2020:
2021:
2022:
2023:
3. How many first time firearm licence applications were made?
2020:
2021:
2022:
2023:
4. How many first time firearm applications were unsuccessful?
2020:
2021:
2022:
2023:
5. How many first time shotgun licence applications were made?
2020:
2021:
2022:
2023:
6. How many first time shotgun applications were unsuccessful?
2020:
2021:
2022:
2023:
7. What the average waiting time for the successful completion of a new firearms licence application process was in your area, ie, how long on average people waited between submitting their application and receiving their first licence (renewals excluded)?
2020:
2021:
2022:
2023:
8. What the average waiting time for a firearms licence renewal was in your area?
2020:
2021:
2022:
2023:
9. How many members of staff you employ to process firearms and shotgun licence applications?
2020:
2021:
2022:
2023:
FOI Duty
First Duty – Essex Police does hold information relating to all your request.
Second Duty – See below
Fact – See below
Exemption – Not applicable
Essex Police can report as follows:
Caveat: The data is correct as at 03 October 2023
Numbers of Firearms License holders in the Essex Police force area by year:
2020: 5,093
2021: 4,969
2022: 4,861
2023: 4,831
Numbers of Shotgun Certificate holders in the Essex Police force area by year:
2020: 20,526
2021: 19,941
2022: 18,760
2023: 18,550
Numbers of first time Firearms Licence applications in the Essex Police force area by year:
2020: 165
2021: 183
2022: 257
2023: 197
Numbers of unsuccessful first time Firearms Licence applications in the Essex Police force area by year:
2020: 5
2021: 4
2022: 3
2023: 5
Numbers of first time Shotgun Certificate applications in the Essex Police force area by year:
2020: 540
2021: 597
2022: 755
2023: 546
Numbers of unsuccessful first time Shotgun Certificate applications in the Essex Police force area by year:
2020: 9
2021: 18
2022: 16
2023: 15
Average waiting time for the successful completion of a new Firearms Licence application by Essex Police by year:
2020: 40
2021: 33
2022: 57
2023: 39
Average waiting time in days for a Firearms Licence renewal by Essex Police by year:
2020: 47
2021: 26
2022: 54
2023: 38
Numbers of staff employed by Essex Police to process Firearms Licence and Shotgun Certificate applications by year:
2020: Circa 30
2021: Circa 30
2022: Circa 30
2023: Circa 30
Every effort is made to ensure that the data provided by Essex Police is accurate and complete. However, Essex Police systems are designed primarily for the management of individual cases and not for the purposes of providing data to answer specific FOI enquiries. Please note although data can be extracted from a number of sources via database queries, the results may be subject to inaccuracies. Care should be taken to understand our return when considering the interpretation or further use of the data.
The following documents and articles available via our publication scheme may also be of interest:
Numbers of Firearm and Shotgun Certificates Issued and Revoked 2019 to 2021 | Essex Police
Firearm and Shotgun Licences – Received/Refused/Revoked/Returned 2010 to 2021 | Essex Police
Firearm/Shotgun Licenses/Certificates - Grants and Renewals 2016 to 2020 | Essex Police
Revoked Firearm or Shotgun Licences 2019 | Essex Police
Review of Firearms License Holders | Essex Police
G2300 Policy - The Licensing of Firearms | Essex Police
I0815 Procedure - Police Officer Removal of Firearms Permits | Essex Police