Part 6: Firearms and pyrotechnic articles Section 131: Limited extension of firearm certificates etc
In September 2015 HMIC reported9 on the findings of the inspections of forces’ firearms licensing departments it had undertaken, and made recommendations for a more consistent and efficient approach to reduce the risks arising from late applications for the renewal of a firearm and shotgun certificate and decisions made by police on those applications after the certificate expires. HMIC considered delays in renewal applications of particular concern by leaving firearms in the possession of those who might no longer be fit to possess them, or leaving applicants in unlawful possession of a firearm without a licence through no fault of their own.
	Subsection (1) inserts a new section 28B (certificates: limited extension) into the 1968 Act. This provides for the validity and conditions of a certificate which is subject to renewal to be extended, in limited circumstances, if the police have not made a decision on the application for renewal by the time when the certificate is due to expire.
	New section 28B(1)(a) provides for an extension to be limited to certificates that are subject to an application for renewal made at least eight weeks before the date on which the certificate is due to expire. New section 28B(1)(b) provides for the extension to take effect if the police have not made a decision on the application for renewal by the time the original certificate has expired.
	New section 28B(2) provides that the certificate remains in force until either the police make a decision on the application for renewal, or the extension period ends.
	New section 28B(3) defines the extension period as the period of eight weeks from the day after the day on which the certificate was due to expire.
	New section 28B(4) provides for the period of extension of a certificate which would have expired to count towards the five-year duration of the renewed certificate in cases where the application for renewal is granted by the police during this period.
	New section 28B(5) provides that the section does not apply in relation to the renewal of a certificate granted or last renewed in Northern Ireland.
	Subsection (2) inserts a new section 28A(1A) which provides for the extension of validity of a certificate under new section 28B without prejudice to section 28A(1) (certificates: supplementary), which limits the duration of new and renewed certificates to five years.