Data on shotgun certificates

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.25.044286

I note you seek access to the following information:

REQUEST 1:
1. How many new shotgun certificates (excluding renewals) were granted in:
- Feb 2025, and
- March 2025.

2. How many home visits/interviews were carried out for granting new shotgun certificates (excluding renewals) in:
- Feb 2025, and
- March 2025.

3. How many shotgun certificate grant applications (excluding renewals) are currently in the queue waiting to be assessed.

4. For new shotgun certificates (excluding renewals) granted in March 2025, what was their average time.

REQUEST 2:
1. How many shotgun certificate grant applications (excluding renewals) were received by the Met Police in July 2024.

2. How many of the shotgun certificate grant applications (excluding renewals) submitted to the Met Police in July 2024 have been approved as of today.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full. Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

REQUEST 1:
Q1 - How many new shotgun certificates (excluding renewals) were granted in:
- Feb 2025, and
- March 2025.

February 2025 – 19 shotgun grants
March 2025 – 21 shotgun grants

Q2 - How many home visits/interviews were carried out for granting new shotgun certificates (excluding renewals) in:
- Feb 2025, and
- March 2025.

The MPS does not routinely collate this information. Please note that there is no obligation under the Freedom of Information Act to create new information to satisfy FOIA requests if that information is not already held in recorded format.

Q3 - How many shotgun certificate grant applications (excluding renewals) are currently in the queue waiting to be assessed.

822

Q4 - For new shotgun certificates (excluding renewals) granted in March 2025, what was their average time.

March 2025 – average time for completion of shotgun grants was 164.64 days

REQUEST 2:
Q1 - How many shotgun certificate grant applications (excluding renewals) were received by the Met Police in July 2024.

92 shotgun grant applications were received in July 2024

Q2 - How many of the shotgun certificate grant applications (excluding renewals) submitted to the Met Police in July 2024 have been approved as of today.

32