Firearms Licensing
Explosives applications
The Control of Explosives Regulations 1991 (COER) require a person who acquires or keeps explosives to hold an explosives certificate issued by the Police.
There are two types of COER Explosives licences:
Acquire only
This allows a person or company to obtain named explosives, which are to be used straight away and not kept overnight. Valid for up to one year.
Acquire and Keep
This allows a person or company to obtain named explosives and keep them in an approved storage place or manner. Valid for up to three years.
Applying for an Explosives Certificate
Form COER 1A - For individual applicants only (Firearms/Shotguns/Re-enactment)
Form COER 1 - For Company/Club/Society applicants, or use other than Firearms/Shotguns/Re-enactment
Form COER 1b - Application for renewal of an explosives certificate
All applications must be submitted to the appropriate Firearms Enquiry Team (Explosives Licensing) as follows:
Acquire & Keep - to the Firearms Enquiry Team for the area where the place of keeping is or will be situated.
Acquire only - to the Firearms Enquiry Team for the area in which the applicant resides or, in the case of a corporate body, in which the applicant has its registered office, or its principal office.
Licence/Registration for Explosives Store
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) deal with the licensing of manufacturing plants, factories and stores holding more than 2000 kilos of explosive and in certain circumstances can give exemptions.
The Police are the Licensing Authority for all other explosives not mentioned in Schedule 1 of COER up to 2000 Kilos.
The Police licensing of storage can be divided into the following three categories
| Category | Weight | Explosive type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licence | 0.1 to 2000 kilos | Various explosives | |
| Registration | 0.1 to 30 kilos | Various explosives | |
| Not licensed or registered | up to 10 Kg | Maximum 30 Kg total | Black powder |
| up to 5 Kg | Shooters powder | ||
| up to 15 Kg | Percussion caps and small arms ammunition (net explosive content) |
The Local Authority deal with licensing of explosives which are in Schedule 1 of COER - fireworks etc. up to 2000 Kilos.
Applying for a Police Licence/Registration for storage
Form MSER3 - to be completed and sent to the Firearms Enquiry Team for the area where the store is situated.
The Licence/Registration can be issued for up to 3 years.
Fees
There is currently no charge for COER Certificates where no MSER Licence/Registration is required.
Fees are payable for COER 'Acquire & Keep' Certificates when the explosives are kept at MSER Licensed/Registered stores.
For a storage licence/registration issued for a period of less than three years a proportionate rate is charged.
These fees are regularly updated and can be found on the HSE website, or contact an Explosives Liaison Officer.
NOTE - From 1st July 2009, applications for all types of shotgun, firearm or explosives certificates must be sent direct to the Firearms Enquiry Teams. Applications will no longer be accepted at police stations within the Metropolitan Police Area. Cheques or postal orders for the correct fee should be made payable to: Metropolitan Police Authority (Cash will not be accepted).