The Tower
On 3 June, we broke the news that the much‑anticipated National Firearms Licensing Management System (NFLMS or Flimsy) procurement process had moved to its next stage, with Palantir announced as the successful supplier.
This development came as a surprise not only to major shooting organisations, but to several police forces as well. That absence of communication is disappointing, though perhaps not unexpected. It undermines the principle of collaborative reform that should underpin any national transition affecting lawful shooting.
The Tower exists to document, analyse, and support the shooting community as questions and concerns inevitably arise around this potentially controversial contract award. It is a free resource for everyone in the shooting community – trade, clubs and individual certificate holders – offering clear, evidence‑based insight into what is happening and why it matters.
Our work here is funded entirely by membership, yet we believe it is too valuable to hide behind a paywall. If you value our efforts and want to help keep this resource open and accessible to all, please consider joining us. Membership packages start at £12 for the entire year and your support ensures we can continue providing the clarity and accountability our community deserves.
https://firearmslicensing.net/register/
What is NFLMS?
The National Firearms Licensing Management System (NFLMS) – often referred to as Flimsy – is the central database used by police forces across England and Wales to manage some aspects of firearms and/or shotgun licensing. It underpins the licensing process: applications, renewals, revocations and the recording of certificate holders and their firearms.
NFLMS was implemented circa 2006 and despite its critical role, the system is widely regarded as outdated, fragmented and increasingly unfit for purpose. Its limitations, combined with rising demand and scrutiny, prompted the Home Office to pursue a full replacement through a national procurement programme.
What NFLMS doesn’t do?
NFLMS is not a case‑management system. This means police forces must operate at least two systems in parallel to complete the firearms licensing process.
The result?
- Inefficiencies
- Duplication of effort
- Variations in process between forces
- Delays and inconsistencies experienced by certificate holders
A system capable of combining both the database and case‑management functions would represent a significant operational improvement for policing.
What information does it hold?
Local practices vary but this is what Statutory Guidance to Police says:
5.1 Chief officers should record the following on the relevant national firearms licensing database:
- (i) the nominal details of all applicants and certificate holders and the status of those certificates including firearms possessed;
- (ii) any information relevant to the suitability of the applicant, including intelligence and allegations or concerns raised even if not proven;
- (iii) the reasons for each grant/renewal decision, whether approval or refusal;
- (iv) details of any review of suitability, including the reasons for the review and its outcome;
- (v) details of any appeal, including the outcome;
- (vi) details of storage of firearms;
- (vii) dates of visits and inspections, and types of inspection (including RFD inspections);
- (viii) whether a medical marker has been added by the GP (if known);
- (ix) whether the certificate holder is an officer, former officer, or police staff or former police staff (if known);
- (x) the outcome of any checks relating to periods of residence abroad;
- (xi) details of the applicant’s GP and referees; and
- (xii) any other information the chief officer considers useful.
5.2 Records should not be deleted due to the applicant moving to another force area.
5.3 Records of applicants and certificate holders on the relevant national firearms licensing database should be kept up to date at all times, so that accurate information on possession of firearms is available to local police via the PNC.
5.4 For RFDs, in the event of a variation of a condition, removal from the register or surrender of a dealer’s certificate of registration, an appropriate notification should be sent to all other forces.
In short: NFLMS holds a significant volume of sensitive personal and suitability‑related data and its replacement will have major implications for both policing and the shooting community.
The Replacement Process
The procurement for the NFLMS replacement first surfaced in late 2023, when the Home Office issued early market engagement material outlining its intention to replace the ageing system. Initial documentation described a platform capable of handling national firearms licensing data, integrating with policing systems and supporting improved decision‑making. However, after this early activity, the programme appeared to stall with little visible progress through 2024.
Momentum returned in 2025, when the Home Office reinvigorated the project and issued a more formal Invitation to Tender (ITT). This specification set out a broad ambition: a modern, secure, cloud‑based platform capable of managing national firearms licensing data, supporting operational workflows and enabling improved analytics. The ITT emphasised interoperability with existing policing systems, strong data‑governance controls and the ability to scale nationally across all forces.
What stands out is the limited transparency surrounding the process. Shooting organisations were not consulted and several police forces reported being only partially briefed, informed late in the cycle or not at all. Despite the system’s direct impact on every certificate holder and every licensing team in England and Wales, the communication appears to have been limited.
The announcement of Palantir as the preferred supplier marks a significant shift toward a high‑end, data‑driven platform. While this may offer technical advantages, it also raises important questions about:
- long‑term governance and data stewardship
- integration with force‑level case‑management systems
- cost and contract structure
- the degree of centralisation the Home Office intends
- how the system will support -or reshape- local licensing practice
These issues will form a core part of The Tower’s ongoing analysis as more information becomes available.
For more detail see https://pds.police.uk/welcome/about-us/our-expertise/national-firearms-licensing-management-system-replacement/
Why does it matter?
The replacement of NFLMS is not a routine IT upgrade – it is a fundamental redesign of the national infrastructure that governs firearms licensing. The system chosen, the data it holds and the way it integrates with policing will shape how certificate holders are assessed and managed for many years.
But this is not a moment for panic. Nothing changes overnight and no new system can be switched on without extensive testing, governance, and scrutiny. What matters now is understanding the direction of travel: how the new platform may affect processing times, consistency between forces, data handling and the balance between national oversight and local discretion. When a project of this scale progresses with limited consultation, the shooting community is right to ask questions – calmly, constructively, and with an eye on ensuring that any new system improves public safety without eroding fairness, proportionality, or trust.
Palantir in the News
Palantir’s expanding role across UK public services has attracted sustained scrutiny from mainstream media, parliamentary committees, and civil society groups. The reporting below provides wider context for understanding why the NFLMS award is likely to draw attention.
Sky News: Parliamentary committee brands Palantir’s role “unacceptable”
Sky News reports that MPs have warned the UK is becoming over‑reliant on Palantir, calling this an “unacceptable point of weakness” that could leave citizens’ data “at the mercy” of foreign actors. The committee highlighted Palantir’s involvement with the NHS and Financial Conduct Authority, raising concerns about privacy, ethics, and dependency on a small number of US‑based providers.
Sky News: Doctors and campaigners urge NHS hospitals to reject Palantir platform
A separate Sky News report describes how doctors, analysts, and human‑rights groups have urged NHS bodies to reconsider adopting Palantir’s £330m Federated Data Platform. Critics argue the rollout is “not going to plan”, with concerns about privacy, spiralling implementation costs, and the displacement of trusted local data solutions.
The Guardian: Officials warn Palantir’s reputation could hinder NHS rollout
The Guardian reveals that internal briefings to ministers warned Palantir’s reputation — including its work with ICE and the Israeli military — could undermine public trust and hinder the rollout of the NHS data platform. MPs have described the company as “ghastly” and “highly questionable”, calling for greater transparency around its public‑sector contracts.
LBC: Why Palantir is controversial
LBC summarises the core concerns: Palantir’s widening reach across UK public services, its origins in US security and immigration operations, and ethical questions surrounding its work with the Israeli military. MPs warn reliance on the company creates a “clear vulnerability” for the UK.
https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/what-palantir-uk-why-controversial-5Hjdb68_2/
Business Chief: Public backlash over £600m UK government contracts
Business Chief reports that more than 229,000 people have signed petitions calling for the government to terminate all Palantir contracts, citing concerns about data handling, surveillance, and the company’s work with ICE and the Israeli military. Palantir currently holds around £600m in UK public‑sector contracts across the NHS, MoD, and policing.
https://businesschief.com/news/palantir-faces-backlash-over-600m-uk-government-contracts
Key Points – Next Steps
For certificate holders, the most important message is that nothing changes immediately. The procurement announcement does not alter the law, the licensing process, or your current certificate conditions. Any new system will take years to design, build, test, and implement and will require extensive governance, scrutiny and operational validation before it affects anyone in practice.
What matters now is simply staying informed. Certificate holders should be aware that a more centralised, data‑driven system is being developed and that this may eventually influence how information is shared between forces, how suitability is assessed and how renewals are processed.
But this is a long‑term transition, not an overnight shift. The best next step is to follow developments calmly, understand the direction of travel and ensure your own records, medical arrangements and contact details remain accurate and up to date. The Tower will continue to monitor the process and provide clear, factual updates as more detail emerges.
