
BREAKING: Lords remove sound moderators from Section 1
If that sounds familiar, it's because the Government had previously promised to do it "when parliamentary time allows" – and that time has come.
Yesterday, the Lords accepted a Crime and Policing Bill amendment removing sound moderators and flash hiders from Section 1 licensing in England, Scotland and Wales.
Moderators specifically for Section 1 firearms will still require the user to possess a shotgun or firearm certificate, but the items themselves will no longer be licensed – so no police variation will be needed.
Commencement date is to be confirmed, but the Bill is expected to become law by mid-May. Until then, sound moderators remain Section 1 firearms.

Roger Seddon, shooting campaign manager at the Countryside Alliance, said:
"We hope this change will be brought into effect at the earliest opportunity. The immediate alleviation of some of the administrative burden on police firearms licensing departments cannot come too soon, with many forces struggling as things stand."
More analysis to follow