Please click on the below sections for further information on each area.
For a Renewal or Grant of a Firearm or Shotgun certificate first thing you need to do is obtain your GP Report, We do not accept applications without a completed GP Report. Please print off and submit a GP Report Proforma to your GP or other private supplier as soon as you can but please not more than 6 months prior to expiry. You will be able to apply 16 weeks prior.
Since November 2021, a GP report is required for all applications, including renewals. You are responsible for arranging your GP report and ensuring it has been submitted in time.
If not using your GP for this report please contact your preferred shooting organisation for information of other private companies that can supply the report.
For a Dealer Certificate if you haven’t renewed your firearm or shotgun certificate in the last 3 years a GP Report will be required.
GP report pro-forma: GP PROFORMA
The preferred File type is JPeg for photos and PDF for files
File sizes can big very large due to the quality of digital cameras. These Photos will need to be reduced in size to load onto our forms. The easiest way to do this is to first email the photos to yourself and when asked picking the smallest files size offered. Re-save the photos you sent to yourself onto your device from your received email to then upload onto our forms.
GP Report: This needs to be a single file preferably PDF containing all pages of the report max file size 4MB.
Photo: This needs to be a passport-style photo which is no larger than 1MB in size and in .jpg/.jpeg format.
Foreign National check: This will be required if you have ever lived abroad as an over 18 year old for a period of 6 months or more.
To speed up and assist with the application process for Firearm and Shotguns we encourage everyone to complete the application online.
When completed the online application form please ensure all fields are correctly completed. Watch out for Postcode search boxes being auto populated by your devise. Particularly attention should be paid to address fields for your GP Surgery, Referees etc Auto fill may add your own postcode to these later fields.
Apply to renew online: ONLINE RENEWAL APPLICATION FORM
If you feel you are unable to apply online, we encourage applicants to get assistance in completing the online application as this is the most efficient way to process an application. Devon and Cornwall Police do not send paper application out to applicants but they are available to print for the Home Office webpage.
Two referees are now required for all firearm and shotgun applications. You will need the folowing information to complete the application.
Title
Full name
Date of birth
Place of birth
Full address
Contact details
Occupation of the referee
In what capacity do you know them
How long have you known them
The referees who have agreed to act for you must have known you personally for at
least the last two years and have had a reasonable degree of contact with you during
that period. They must be resident in Great Britain. A referee must not be a member
of your immediate family, a registered firearms dealer, a serving police officer, a police
employee, a Police and Crime Commissioner or a member of their staff, or a member of,
or a member of staff of, the Scottish Police Authority. Referees must be of good character
and any references they agree to provide must be given freely and not on payment. You
should ensure your referees know what is required of them by acting in such capacity by
providing them with the guidance for referees which can be found at Annex A.
We recommend applying as early as possible but not prior to 16 weeks before renewal.
This office issues a GP report prompt approximately 6 months prior and renewal reminders approximately 16 weeks prior to expiry. You can not apply more than 16 weeks in advance of Expiry.
If your renewal application is received a minimum of 8 weeks prior to expiry, an 8-week extension will automatically be applied to your certificate (where applicable). This means you can keep possession and use of your guns if we have not completed your renewal prior to the original expiry date.
If you do not apply more than 8 weeks in advance and we cannot complete your renewal prior to expiry, you will need to arrange to lodge your guns to avoid being in illegal possession.
If your certificate expires and you are still in possession of your guns(s) you will be committing an offence under the Firearms Act 1968 Section (1). This may affect any future certificate application that you may wish to make.
It is your responsibility to ensure you remain in lawful possession of any firearms, shotguns and ammunition at all times.
Please note that Devon and Cornwall Police operate a zero tolerance policy regarding possession of guns if you no longer have a valid certificate, this includes if your current certificate expires.
Please ensure ALL guns, component parts and Section 1 ammunition is legally lodged prior to expiry of your certificate and you have notified the firearms department.
NOTE - Section 1 items can only be stored with another Firearm Certificate holder if they have an unused authority for each item, storing will use that authority.
Please inform us of any storage/deposal via our Gun transfer Form: GUN TRANSFER FORM
If you have previously disposed of your guns and informed us, unless you also returned your certificate for cancellation at the same time you still have a live certificate and that will be why we have contacted you. If you no longer wish to have a certificate and you no longer have the guns and have previously informed us of their disposal to an RFD or other holder or surrender than you do not need to do anymore. If our record do not reflect this you will receive further contact from us prior to expiry asking for information about the whereabouts of the guns.
If you wish to cancel your certificate you will need to return your certificate(s) for cancellation, we can not do this without the certificates being returned.
Please return to:
Firearms and Explosive Licensing Dept
Devon and Cornwall Police Headquarters
Middlemoor
Exeter
EX2 7HQ
If your certificate is not cancelled you may receive further correspondence from us leading up to your expiry.
Please just ignore these if you do not possess any guns and you have notified us previously.
If you do not intend to renew your certificate you must ensure that you have disposed of all your guns and/or ammunition before your certificates expire.
You must notify this office within 7 days of disposal and preferably prior to expiry.
You can notify us using our online form:
Online Gun Transfer / Disposal Notification Form:
Gun transfer Form: GUN TRANSFER FORM
If you wish to cancel your certificate you will need to return your certificate(s) for cancellation, we can not do this without the certificates being returned.
Please return to:
Firearms and Explosive Licensing Dept
Devon and Cornwall Police Headquarters
Middlemoor
Exeter
EX2 7HQ
If your certificate is not cancelled you may receive further correspondence from us leading up to your expiry.
Please just ignore these if you do not possess any guns and you have notified us previously.
Our main Firearms Licensing Website Firearms Licensing - Devon and Cornwall Police Firearms contains all the information you need including a FAQ PAGE