Transporting firearms by post - Postcomm's decision

30 June 2005

Postcomm – the independent regulator for postal services - has today announced its decision not to allow Royal Mail to prohibit the transport of firearms in the post.

There already exists a highly regulated system for transporting firearms and, in this wider context, Royal Mail had asked to be allowed to refuse to carry firearms and component parts through its letters network. But after a three month consultation failed to provide sufficient evidence to support Royal Mail’s arguments in favour of a ban, Postcomm has decided not to agree to the proposal. Separately, Royal Mail has told Postcomm that it will not pursue this request but will continue to keep the matter under review.

Sixty-two individuals and organisations responded to Postcomm’s consultation. The majority of the responses that Postcomm received did not support the arguments put forward by Royal Mail:

  1. That firearms cause significant disruption to Royal Mail and police when they are found in the letters network.
  2. That prohibiting the carriage of firearms in the post would help the police with firearms control.
  3. That ease of access to Royal Mail’s pipeline and the anonymity of senders make Royal Mail’s letters network a target for the transport of illegal firearms.

The principal reasons for Postcomm’s decisions are:

  • Royal Mail has not provided sufficient evidence that carrying legal firearms in its letters network causes undue and unavoidable disruption;
  • Royal Mail has not provided sufficient evidence to show that prohibiting the carriage of firearms in its letters network would contribute to a material reduction in the number of illegal weapons entering and circulating within the UK;
  • Prohibiting the carriage of (legal) firearms and component parts in the post would cause hardship for many people and businesses, especially those in rural areas.

Organisations responding to the consultation included, amongst others, a number of sporting and historical societies, the Home Office, the Gun Control Network, Postwatch, Royal Mail and many individuals. A full list is provided in Postcomm’s decision document - “Notice of a proposed direction for Royal Mail to prohibit the carriage of firearms”. More information on the firearms consultation. 

The consultation was requested by Royal Mail in September 2004, launched on 13 December 2004, and closed on 14 March 2005.