Firearms and Explosives Licensing

Firearms Licensing Manager Bridget Hodgson, who leads the team, gave us a look into the day-to-day work of this specialised and hugely experienced unit. 

Keeping the public safe, one certificate at a time

Anyone who wants to own a firearm, shotgun or explosives needs a certificate — and that’s where the FELU steps in. 

Bridget said: “The team’s number one priority is public safety. Every application is carefully assessed to ensure the person is suitable, responsible and capable of securely owning and using a firearm. This assessment is more than form-filling – it’s about understanding a person’s background, their circumstances, and any potential risks they may pose.” 

And their work doesn’t stop once a certificate is issued. Firearm ownership comes with ongoing responsibility — and FELU ensures that responsibility is upheld. 

Monitoring, intervention, and tough decisions 

Bridget continued: “The team continually monitors existing certificate holders, checking they still meet the legal requirements. If anything raises concern, a licence can be revoked, and firearms are removed to protect the public. 

“In 2025, over 200 firearms were taken from certificate holders who no longer met the necessary criteria, and every month, the unit receives around 1,000 alerts about incidents involving certificate holders or members of their households.  

“These could come from police systems, partner agencies, or even reports from the public. Every single one is reviewed, and when needed, a firearms enquiry officer will visit to carry out a suitability check. Sometimes this means delivering difficult news — but always with one goal in mind: ensuring the safety of the public, officers, and the individual themselves.” 

Supporting officers and the community 

The FELU is more than a licensing body — it’s a key part of our wider policing response. 

Because certificate details are held on police systems, officers attending an incident at a property where firearms are kept will have that information in advance. This helps them stay safe and make informed decisions. 

The team also: 

• Trains officers in firearms licencing legislation and processes 
• Provides  guidance to colleagues and members of the public 
• Liaises with firearms dealers, pedlars, clubs, and clay shoots to ensure they are properly licensed 
• Attends community events such as game fairs and rural shows to share advice about safe ownership and secure storage. 
• Visits burglary victims who own firearms to help identify whether their weapons may have been targeted 
• Manages the destruction of surrendered firearms — 351 were destroyed in 2025 

100+ years of experience and expertise 

The FELU isn’t just hardworking, it’s very experienced. 

Bridget is supported by her deputy Andi, who manages the firearms enquiry officer team, and officer manager Eme who leads a team of administrators. They share nearly 65 years of firearms licensing expertise, while two of the team’s administrators alone, Dawn and Sara, have another 65 years of service between them. Add in the rest of the team, plus the years spent in other policing roles, and there’s getting on for 150 years of experience within the FELU! 

Bridget added: “Having spent more than 45 years working in policing, I’ve seen a lot of changes. But one constant is the dedication of the people I’ve had the privilege of working with over the years. 

“Behind every certificate, every safety check and every public engagement is a team of people who take pride in doing the right thing for the public and for policing. A huge thank you to all my team for everything they do to keep our communities safe.” 

An overview of the roles and work of the FELU 

• Firearms and Explosives Licensing Manager – carries out suitability reviews, with a particular focus on licence applications or renewals considered high risk, and is responsible for granting licences and signing certificates, as well as any decisions to refuse applications or revoke a certificate. They will represent the Force in any court appeals as well as being the regional policing lead for firearms licensing.  Also liaises with national specialist units with regard to legal-to-illegal firearms. 
• Deputy Firearms and Explosives Licensing Manager – deputises for the unit manager in granting licences and renewals, and signing certificates. They also carry out visits to shooting clubs and firearms dealers to provide advice and ensure continued compliance. They are also the Force Explosives Officer, visiting explosives licensed stores in the county, being the SPOC for anything explosives, and signing off explosives certificates. 
• NABIS Compliance Officer – NABIS is the National Ballistics Intelligence Service and the compliance officer monitors any ballistic items seized as part of incidents or crimes and liaises with the national hub. They check every firearm that comes into force.  They visit firearms holders involved in medium/high risk incidents, and also burglaries.  They are responsible for managing the destruction of any firearms handed into or seized by police. 
• Firearms Enquiry Officers (FEOs) – responsible for visiting and interviewing all new applicants for a firearm or shotgun certificate, reporting back to allow assessment of their suitability before being granted a licence. They also deal with renewal applications or if someone needs to make changes to the detail on their certificate, such as a house move, a change in the number of firearms owned or place where they’re stored. This may be an in-person visit or a video interview, depending on the circumstances. We have four FEOs at the moment and are currently recruiting a further two.  
• Admin Team Leader/Office Manager and Administrators/Clerks – efficient and timely administration is vital in the firearms licencing world and the department’s admin team has a vital role to play in ensuring correct processes are followed and all ‘paperwork’ is properly managed. The office manager looks after a team of administrators and clerks, whose tasks include updating systems with details of firearms and certificate holders, taking phone calls and dealing with emails from the public to process applications and give advice and support.  
• Intelligence Officer – checks, researches and reviews the information and alerts that come into the unit to ensure we can take appropriate and timely actions in revoking certificates and removing firearms when necessary to ensure public safety.  Produces detailed reports in the medium/higher risk incidents for suitability reviews and possible revocation. 
• Police staff volunteer – the team is supported by a dedicated volunteer who gives up time each week to help with important tasks — a contribution the team hugely values. 

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