The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) has taken part in a national stakeholder session as part of His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services' thematic inspection into firearms licensing across England and Wales. The NGO was invited to attend as a stakeholder organisation, representing the interests and experiences of gamekeepers and others who rely on firearms as part of their lawful work and way of life.
The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) has taken part in a national stakeholder session as part of His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS's) thematic inspection into firearms licensing across England and Wales. The NGO was invited to attend as a stakeholder organisation, representing the interests and experiences of gamekeepers and others who rely on firearms as part of their lawful work and way of life. The session formed part of HMICFRS’s wider evidence-gathering programme, bringing together those directly affected by firearms licensing to provide insight into how the system operates in practice.
The NGO used the opportunity to set out clearly the real-world impact of firearms licensing on gamekeepers and rural workers, drawing directly on members’ experiences. This included the challenges created by delay, inconsistency, and lack of engagement, and the consequences for livelihoods, animal welfare, countryside management, and the wider rural economy when licensing systems do not function proportionately or predictably.
Members’ experiences were shared to highlight the practical realities of relying on firearms for lawful employment, the stress and disruption caused by delays and inconsistent decision-making, the importance of proportionate, evidence-based and consistent licensing, and the need for meaningful engagement with those directly affected.
Commenting on the meeting, Livia Brynin, Firearms Advisor for the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation, said:
“It is vital that the voices of gamekeepers and rural firearms users are heard directly in national reviews like this. Too often decisions are made without a full understanding of how firearms licensing operates on the ground or the impact it has on people’s livelihoods and way of life. Being invited to the table as a stakeholder means we can represent our members properly, challenge where necessary, and ensure real-world experience forms part of the evidence base.”
HMICFRS confirmed that all feedback from the session will be anonymised and reported thematically. Evidence gathered through stakeholder engagement will inform a national report expected to be published in July, examining consistency, efficiency, governance, and public safety within firearms licensing.
The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation welcomes the opportunity to be around the table for these discussions and will continue to engage robustly on behalf of members to ensure that policy and practice reflect the realities of lawful firearms use in the countryside. Members will be kept informed as the inspection progresses and once HMICFRS publishes its findings.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation: The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) represents the gamekeepers of England and Wales. The NGO defends and promotes gamekeeping and gamekeepers and works to ensure high standards throughout the profession. The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation was founded in 1997 by a group of gamekeepers who felt that keepering was threatened by public misunderstanding and poor representation. Today, there are 13,000 members of the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation. www.nationalgamekeepers.org.uk
