On 1 April 2014 the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association extended its insurance for members to include legal expenses in the event of the Police revoking or refusing to renew their shotgun certificate. Our firearms law legal expert Laura Saunsbury has been the CPSA Honorary Solicitor since 2009 and has found that, as the Police have taken an increasingly rigorous approach to firearms licensing in recent years, there have been growing numbers of shotgun and firearm certificate holders in need of specialist advice and representation.

Laura was closely involved in the CPSA’s introduction and development of the legal expenses policy for its members.

For an overview of the insurance scheme, click here to read Laura’s latest article in the CPSA members’ magazine, Pull!, or find further information on the CPSA’s website.

The Police are well aware that some individuals may be discouraged from pursuing a perfectly valid appeal to the Crown Court purely because of the costs involved. This legal expenses insurance, and a very similar policy introduced by BASC recently for its members, are therefore a very welcome development in protecting the rights of law abiding shooters. These policies will enable Laura Saunsbury and Lewis Nedas to assist more certificate holders than ever before.