DORSET is one of the counties to have improved the most from last year in a review of firearms licensing performance.

The British Association for Shooting & Conservation (BASC) has conducted its annual review of firearms licensing performance, which compiles the average turnaround times for firearm (FAC) and shotgun (SGC) certificate grants and renewals for the various forces across the country.

The 2019 data showed that Dorset was one of the most improved areas from the previous year alongside South Wales and Warwickshire.

Rory O’Loughlin, BASC’s firearms officer, said: "Things have stayed largely the same as the previous year – what we have gained with one hand we seem to have lost with the other.

"All police forces should be striving towards providing an efficient, cost-effective, robust system of firearms licensing that protects public safety and provides excellent service to the shooting community.

"We will continue to monitor the situation as we enter a busy period in firearms licensing."

While Dorset was noted in the review for its improvement on the previous year, it was not one of the highest ranking authorities - those at the top were Cleveland, Essex and Lincolnshire.

The table also showed that Dorset had a below average time for processing FAC grants (at 70 days) and SGC grants (73 days). The national averages were 61 days and 59 days respectively.

While these national figures were up from 2018, the time for processing renewals had slowed. For FACs it had worsened from 50 days to 48, and SGCs it went from 39 days to 43. The 2019 figures for Dorset were 62 days for FACs and 57 days for SGCs.

The forces that had worsened the most were Durham, the West Midlands and Lancashire.

Mr O’Loughlin said that 2018 and 2019 were both 'dip years' - years in which there is a reduced demand for firearms licensing. This resulted from when certificate terms were adjusted from three years to five. As a result, there tends to be a cycle of three busier years and two where the situation is quieter.