Introduction:
Temporary Permits should protect certificate holders, not excuse police delays. If you applied in good time, you shouldn’t face unlawful possession or storage costs. This guide explains your rights and how to challenge unfair refusals.
In Brief
Temporary Permits were designed to bridge short gaps, not to excuse systemic delays. Yet many certificate holders find themselves in limbo: unable to renew, unable to purchase, and expected to pay for secure storage simply because their force has not processed their application in time.
This guide explains:
- When a Temporary Permit should be issued
- What the law and Statutory Guidance require
- Whether the police should pay for storage
- Two template letters: a Notice of Intention to Claim and a Formal Claim
- A full list of UK police force legal‑services email addresses
The Legal Framework — What Should Happen
The 8‑Week Extension
If you submit your renewal at least eight weeks before expiry, Section 28B of the Firearms Act 1968 automatically grants an eight‑week extension to your certificate. The guidance makes clear that this extension is intended as a safety net for exceptional circumstances where the police are unable to process and decide a case before the original expiry date. It is not intended to be used routinely.
This sixteen‑week window (eight weeks before expiry plus the eight‑week extension) is the basis for the expectation that renewals should normally be completed within four months.
Temporary Permits — What They Are and When They Should Be Issued
The Law
Section 7(1) of the Firearms Act 1968 allows a Temporary Permit enabling continued lawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
The Guidance
The guidance states that a permit should be issued if a certificate holder’s firearm certificate or shotgun certificate has expired and they have made reasonable efforts to renew in good time. This is not optional language. If you applied in good time, the default expectation is that a Temporary Permit should be issued.
What a Temporary Permit Allows
- Continued lawful possession of the firearms and ammunition already held
- Purchase of Section 2 shotgun ammunition
A Temporary Permit does not allow:
- Purchase of firearms
- Purchase of Section 1 ammunition
Why Some Forces Stopped Issuing Permits – And Why That’s Not Your Problem
In late 2023, around 5,000 Temporary Permits were in circulation. Some forces used them as a way to manage backlogs. Statutory Guidance criticised this practice and numbers dropped sharply. Some forces then incorrectly told certificate holders that they had been forbidden from issuing Temporary Permits. This is untrue. The guidance says forces should avoid routine use, not stop issuing them altogether.
Should the Police Pay for Storage? A Step‑by‑Step Analysis
Step 1 — Did you apply at least eight weeks before expiry?
If yes, you triggered the statutory extension.
Step 2 — Who caused the delay?
Your case is strongest when:
- You applied in good time
- You cooperated fully
- The delay is due to police backlogs or internal processes
Step 3 — What does Statutory Guidance require?
If the police cannot decide within the extension period, the guidance states that they must either work with the applicant to make arrangements for safe, legal storage, or consider issuing a Temporary Permit.
Step 4 — When is the argument for police‑funded storage strongest?
When all of the following apply:
- You applied at least eight weeks before expiry
- The delay is police‑caused
- No Temporary Permit has been issued
- You are being told to pay for storage solely because the force has not processed your renewal
Step 5 — When is the argument weaker?
- You applied late
- You failed to provide required information
- You ignored reminders
- Even then, fairness arguments remain if delays were caused by GP reports or other third‑party issues.
Template Letters
Template 1 — Notice of Intention to Claim (Pre‑Claim Notification)
Send this to your firearms licensing team while they are still processing your application. It let’s them know that you intend to claim.
Subject: Renewal Delay – Notice of Intention to Claim Storage Costs and Request for Temporary Permit
Certificate Number: [Insert]
Dear [Licensing Manager / Firearms Licensing Team],
I am writing regarding the renewal of my [firearm/shotgun/both] certificate, which expires/expired on [date]. I submitted my renewal on [date], which was [number] weeks before expiry.
Statutory Extension
Under Section 28B of the Firearms Act 1968, my timely application triggered the automatic eight‑week extension, extending my certificate to [date].
Delay Not Attributable to Me
I have complied fully with all requirements. It appears the delay is due to internal processing issues within the force.
Temporary Permit
Guidance states that a permit should be issued if a certificate holder has made reasonable efforts to renew in good time. As I applied in good time, I request that a Temporary Permit be issued immediately.
Notice of Intention to Claim Storage Costs
If no permit is issued, I will be required to place my firearms/shotguns into storage with [RFD/club] from [date] at a cost of £[amount] per [week/month]. I intend to seek reimbursement of these costs if they arise.
Request
I request:
- Immediate issue of a Temporary Permit; or
- Confirmation that the force will meet reasonable storage costs until the renewal is completed.
Please respond within 14 days.
Yours faithfully,
[Name]
[Address]
[Contact details]
Template 2 — Formal Claim for Reimbursement of Storage Costs
Send this once your application is resolved to the email addresses below for your Force.
Subject: Formal Claim for Reimbursement of Storage Costs Arising from Renewal Delay
Certificate Number: [Insert]
Dear [Licensing Manager / Firearms Licensing Team],
I am writing to submit a formal claim for reimbursement of storage costs incurred as a direct result of delays in processing my certificate renewal.
Background
- Renewal submitted: [date]
- Weeks before expiry: [number]
- Statutory extension end date: [date]
- Date firearms/shotguns placed into storage: [date]
- Storage provider: [RFD/club name
- Cost: £[amount] per [week/month]
Delay Not Attributable to Me
I complied fully with all requirements. The delay was caused by internal force processes.
Temporary Permit
Guidance states that a permit should be issued if a certificate holder has made reasonable efforts to renew in good time. Despite this, no Temporary Permit was issued.
Statutory Guidance
Where police cannot decide within the extension period, they must either work with the applicant to arrange safe, legal storage or consider issuing a Temporary Permit. This did not occur.
Financial Loss
I have incurred storage costs totalling £[amount] for the period [date] to [date]. Receipts and invoices are attached.
Claim
I request reimbursement of £[amount], representing the reasonable and necessary costs incurred solely because the force did not complete the renewal or issue a Temporary Permit.
Please confirm reimbursement within 14 days, or provide written reasons with reference to the relevant statutory provisions and guidance.
Yours faithfully,
[Name]
[Address]
[Contact details]
UK Police Force Legal‑Services Email Directory
Please note every effort is made to ensure these are correct but we can not always keep up with changes. If you find one that doesn’t work please let us know.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary – legalservices@avonandsomerset.police.uk
Bedfordshire Police – customersupport@beds.police.uk
Cambridgeshire Constabulary – legaladvice@cambs.police.uk
Cheshire Constabulary – legal.services@cheshire.police.uk
City of London Police – ccs.contact@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Cleveland Police – legal.services@cleveland.police.uk
Cumbria Constabulary – HQLegalServices@cumbria.police.uk
Derbyshire Constabulary – legal@derbyshire.police.uk
Devon and Cornwall Police – legalservices@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
Dorset Police – legalservices@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
Durham Constabulary – legal@durham.police.uk
Dyfed‑Powys Police – LegalServices@dyfed-powys.police.uk
Essex Police – essex.legal.services@essex.police.uk
Gloucestershire Constabulary – legal.services@gloucestershire.police.uk
Greater Manchester Police – CivilLitigation.Unit@gmp.police.uk
Gwent Police – jointlegalservices@south-wales.police.uk
Hampshire Constabulary – civil.litigation@hampshire.police.uk
Hertfordshire Constabulary – legalservices@herts.police.uk
Humberside Police – legalenquiries@southyorkshire.police.uk
Kent Police – legal.services@kent.pnn.police.uk
Lancashire Constabulary – civildisclosures@lancashire.police.uk
Leicestershire Police – legal@derbyshire.police.uk
Lincolnshire Police – legal@derbyshire.police.uk
Merseyside Police – civil.litigation@merseyside.police.uk
Metropolitan Police Service – DLSMailbox-Allocations@met.police.uk
Norfolk Constabulary – legalservices@norfolk.police.uk
Northamptonshire Police – legal@derbyshire.police.uk
Northumbria Police – civil.claims@northumbria.police.uk
North Wales Police – karen.kinsey@nthwales.pnn.police.uk
North Yorkshire Police – legal.servicescentral@northyorkshire.police.uk
Nottinghamshire Police – legal@derbyshire.police.uk
South Wales Police – jointlegalservices@south-wales.police.uk
South Yorkshire Police – LegalEnquiries@southyorks.pnn.police.uk
Staffordshire Police – LS_joint_services@westmidlands.police.uk
Suffolk Constabulary – insurancesection@suffolk.police.uk
Surrey Police – Surreyandsussexclaims@sussex.pnn.police.uk
Sussex Police – civilclaims@sussex.police.uk
Thames Valley Police – legal.enquiries@thamesvalley.police.uk
Warwickshire Police – legal@warwickshire.police.uk
West Mercia Police – legal.hq@westmercia.police.uk
West Midlands Police – ls_joint_services@westmidlands.police.uk
West Yorkshire Police – legal.services@westyorkshire.police.uk
Wiltshire Police – legalservices@wiltshire.police.uk
Final Thoughts
Temporary Permits were never meant to be a substitute for proper resourcing. When delays push certificate holders towards unlawful possession, fairness should not be the first casualty. If you applied in good time, cooperated fully, and the delay is police‑caused, you have a strong basis to argue that a Temporary Permit should be issued and that you should not be forced to pay for storage caused by administrative failure.
