London, UK — 29 June 2026

Crime and Policing Act 2026 – Changes to the Licensing of Sound Moderators

The relevant provisions of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 have now come into force, bringing about a significant and welcome change to the law relating to sound moderators.

Previously, a sound moderator capable of being fitted to a firearm requiring a firearm certificate had to be specifically authorised. The new legislation removes sound moderators (and flash hiders) from the definition of a firearm for these purposes. As a result, they are no longer subject to separate certification or variation requirements. Anyone who may lawfully possess the firearm to which a moderator is intended to be fitted may now acquire and possess a suitable moderator without the need for a separate authority on their certificate.

For existing certificate holders, there is nothing that needs to be done. If your firearm certificate already includes authority for one or more sound moderators, those entries will remain until your next renewal. At renewal, police forces will cease recording moderators as separate authorities, and the existing entries will naturally fall away without any action being required on your part. This change removes an unnecessary administrative burden on both certificate holders and police firearms licensing departments, while maintaining the existing controls over the possession of firearms themselves. The British Shooting Sports Council and its members have long argued that sound moderators are safety devices which reduce noise pollution and help protect the hearing of shooters, gamekeepers, farmers and others who use firearms lawfully.

The BSSC welcomes the implementation of this sensible and proportionate reform and was pleased to work constructively with the Home Office, its member organisations and other stakeholders to help bring about this important change. The Council also wishes to record its thanks to its President, Lord Brady of Altrincham, for his support in tabling the amendment in the House of Lords that helped secure this reform.