Dear GTA Member

I would like to bring to your attention a fraudulent Suffolk RFD certificate currently in circulation and being used by criminals to obtain illicit funds.

A Suffolk RFD (GTA member) has recently been approached by genuine gun owners from different parts of the country. In both cases, the owners had listed firearms for sale online and were contacted by a suspicious individual claiming to be an RFD operating from an address close to the legitimate member’s premises.

Both sellers became concerned and contacted the legitimate Suffolk RFD to verify the caller’s authenticity.

The fraudulent certificate lists the address as Saxtead, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 9QD. While the address is accurate, the RFD at that location has retired and ceased trading. The name shown on the certificate is false. In both incidents, the sellers became suspicious when the fraudulent buyer insisted on arranging courier collection directly from them, rather than using an RFD‑to‑RFD transfer.

The legitimate RFD notified Suffolk Police immediately after the first enquiry and the police have confirmed that the certificate is fraudulent. The offenders are attempting to use “certified cheques” as their method of payment.

Both Suffolk Police and the Metropolitan Police have asked the GTA to share this information with members to help raise awareness within the trade. The GTA has referred this matter to the NCA, and both Suffolk and the Metropolitan Police are treating it as an active investigation, therefore if you have any further information please contact those forces.

Contact numbers:

Suffolk: 01473 613500 Metropolitan: 020 7230 1212

Best Regards

Paul Green, Technical Director The Gun Trade Association Fraudulent_RFD.jpg JPG (51.4 KB) Download

Download: Fraudulent RFD.jpg

Dear GTA Member

Thank you to everyone who has continued to email us and share your experiences throughout the Parcelforce transition.

 We are beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel, although it is still very early days. The persistent time and effort that members have invested, both on the phone and in working through software issues, now appear to be delivering some positive local outcomes. Our letter to Parcelforce senior executives has also prompted an initial response. In addition, as highlighted in our latest attachment, Parcelforce has now launched a dedicated webpage for RFDs sending firearms.

New webpage:  Information for customers sending firearms | Parcelforce Worldwide

Helpdesk: [email protected]

Parcelforce Helpline number – 0345 266 0846

Following our initial contact with Parcelforce senior management, discussions have progressed quickly, and we are scheduling our first meetings with them early next week. I will provide a further update at the earliest opportunity once we have more information to share.

Paul Green, Technical Director
The Gun Trade Association 

Parcelforce – CLICK & DROP Latest Updates – Export WDMO address book – New Parcelforce firearms webpage

Table Of Contents

• Introduction
• Download your address book from WDMO
• New firearms webpage by Parcelforce
• Concurrence
• Supporting documents
• Shipping
• Collections
• Returns
• Contact

INTRODUCTION

One of the benefits of being a GTA member is the ability to share information across the association. Last week, two members forwarded the following details to the GTA, and I would like to pass them on, in the hope that they help you navigate the challenging transition to “Click & Drop.”

“Downloading your address book from WDMO” has been kindly to shared by one of our members, but I have been unable to test it. Therefore, as the GTA I can offer no guarantees that it will work for everyone and therefore you many have to enter your addresses manually.

Download Your Address Book Afrom Wdmo

If you need to Export/Download your address book from WDMO and import it into, Click and Drop, open your address book on WDMO, when you log in to WDMO you would see ‘Addresses’ at the top, click on it and it will open a contact, at the bottom you would see ‘Export’ click on that and it would download your address book as a csv file.

To import an address book:

To import an address book into Click and Drop, you will need a spreadsheet of your names and addresses you wish to import to begin with. The data needs to be separated into different fields (i.e.

Address line 1 in one column, Address line 2 in another column, City in a third column and so on). You can also separate the data by Comma/Semicolon/Tab/Pipe for some file types.

• On your spreadsheet, add a new column (or data field) titled ‘Address Book Reference’. In this column, give every name/address entry a unique referencethis could be a name, a number, store ID or whatever you choose, and save.
• On Click and Drop, go to Orders > Import.
• In Step 1, select ‘Upload a file’, find the file you wish to upload, and ‘Upload file’.

ADDRESS BOOK

In Step 2 – choose your trading name, name format and any other options relevant to your file format.

Important: there is a box for ‘Use address book references’, please leave this unticked.

In Step 3 – you will see the columns on your spreadsheet. You need to match these up to the relevant fields on Click and Drop, so we know where to put the information in that column. On the black bar above each column, please go into the drop-down list and choose the relevant field for this information, so for example in the column for the first line of the address, in the drop-down options choose ‘Address line 1’, for the City column choose ‘City’

and so on.

Once you have mapped all the columns, press ‘Import orders. It will then give a message to say how many are successfully created and if there are any errors. For any errors you will need to correct these and re-import them.

If you then go to Orders > Address Book, you should see that the addresses have been added to your address book with the reference you gave. If you have lots of addresses you can use the black bar at the top of the page to filter by name, address or reference, and just show the entry for that person/address. This process will have created orders in your Click and Drop account, if you go to your Orders overview, you can select the orders and choose ‘Delete’ in the options, and follow the steps to delete them:

To Create An Order

To create an order, you would go to Orders > Address, locate the name/address to send to, and press ‘Create order’ next to the address and it show the order creation screen with the details prefilled for you.

Alternatively, if you go to Orders > Create Order, there is a box titled ‘Search for an address book entry or a UK address’. You can use the address reference you gave in here to search with, so here I have searched with the reference I gave, and there is an entry in the search results next to a book symbol:

You would select this, and it would pull through the details from your Address Book. You can also import a spreadsheet using the Address book reference in place of the name and address. To do this, you would follow the steps for importing above, then in Step 2 tick ‘Use address book references’, and map this in.

New Firearms Parcelforce Webpage

Please Click On This Link Below To Access The

WEBPAGE

Information for customers sending firearms | Parcelforce Worldwide You will find details on this page to support you in sending section 1 and 2 firearms and low-powered airguns, imitation firearms, de-activated guns, antique firearms, paintball guns and inert projectiles not prohibited by Sect 5 of the Firearms Act 1968.

The page states the following – You must obtain written approval from Parcelforce Worldwide prior to sending – in other words, you must have an account.

CONCURRENCE

The following points must be adhered to when sending FIREARMS:

• Product: Customers must use the dedicated expressAMF and expressAMF Weekend products on Click & Drop for all shipments listed above. These products are mandatory for sending firearms and related items, as outlined in your Price Confirmation Letter.
• Registered Dealers: Collections and deliveries of Section 1 and Section 2 firearms will only be accepted where both the sender and recipient are Registered Firearms Dealers (RFDs).
• Delivery Attempts: All firearms items listed above can only be delivered to the specified address. If delivery cannot be completed on the first attempt, we will automatically attempt delivery on the next working day. After this, undelivered items will be held at the local depot for 18 days before being returned to the sender.
• Export/Import Restrictions: All types of firearms and guns, including component parts, are prohibited for export and/or import outside the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland. (includes Isle of Man)
• Extended Delivery Times: Items sent on expressAMF and expressAMF Weekend to certain postcodes may have extended delivery times. You can check these
• Labelling: All items sent on expressAMF and expressAMF Weekend must be clearly labelled with ‘Do not fly’.
• Security: The sender must affix all labels to parcels prior to collection by the Parcelforce Worldwide driver.
• Secure Loading Area: The sending customer should provide a secure area for the driver to park and load the van (e.g., a locked car park or rear premises area), preferably covered by CCTV.

CONCURRENCE -continued

• Packaging: Items must not be identifiable from external packaging. Packaging must be suitable for labels to adhere correctly. Please see our packaging guidelines.
• Removable Cylinders: Air weapons with a removable pressurised gas cylinder attached are prohibited. Cylinders must be removed prior to transit and must not be shipped pressurised.
• Insurance: Customers are strongly advised to have their own Goods in Transit insurance policy. In addition, enhanced compensation options of £750, £1,000, and £2,500 are available when using the expressAMF service.
• Firearms Certificate: A contract can only operate while the Parcelforce Worldwide holds a valid Firearms Certificate (RFD) from the customer. It is your responsibility to update Parcelforce Worldwide with any licence renewals.
• Service Withdrawal: Parcelforce Worldwide reserves the right to withdraw the firearms service if any clauses in the Terms and Conditions, including prohibitions and restrictions, are not met.
• Dangerous Goods: Any items classified as firearms, as stated above, must be sent on expressAMF. Any other items classified as Dangerous Goods (DG) require separate DG authorisation and must be shipped separately from firearms.

Supporting Documents

• Postcode Exceptions: Details of postcodes with extended delivery times can be found here, https://www.parcelforce.com/help-andadvice/sending/postcode-exceptions-uk-zones
• Prohibitions and Restrictions: Guidance can be found here. https://help.royalmail.com/business/s/article/Prohibited-and-restricted-items-business-customerguidelines?adobe_mc=MCMID%253D31989484983194880170752095967812822009%257CMCORGID%253DBB331CFE53309F560A490D45%2540AdobeOrg
• Specific instructions for sending firearms are located in the ‘Firearms’ section.
• Packaging Guidelines: Full packaging guidelines can be found here. https://www.parcelforce.com/help-and-advice/sending/packaging-guidelines

SHIPPING

• You can create expressAMF and expressAMF Weekend shipments on Click & Drop in the same way as other shipments.
• Please double-check that you have selected the correct product. The label should include the following:
• A signature indicator
• At the bottom of the label, the statements ‘Do not fly’ and ‘Address only’

COLLECTIONS

Scheduled Collections

• Existing customers: There are no changes to your current scheduled collection arrangements. If any changes occur, we will notify you in advance.
• New customers: Scheduled collection arrangements will be confirmed as part of your onboarding process.
• To request a new scheduled collection: You must meet the minimum volume requirements for a scheduled collection – please complete the following form, opens in a new window. https://www.royalmail.com/business/services/sending/efficiency/collection-services/bookingform?adobe_mc=MCMID%253D31989484983194880170752095967812822009%257CMCORGID%253DBB331CFE53309F560A490D45%2540AdobeOrg Ad-hoc Collections A new Ad-hoc collection process has been implemented for all customers shipping Firearms and secure products, which are in place now and must be followed in order to book an Ad-hoc collection only:
• Create your label and shipment in Click & Drop:
• Book your parcel in Click & Drop, selecting one of the new Firearms secure services and following all the steps to produce your shipping label and create the shipment.
• You must complete your manifest – you will need to provide your manifest batch ID when requesting your Ad-hoc collection.
• Please note: Click & Drop allows you to manifest multiple times per day – which is an enhancement from the WDM Online platform.

COLLECTIONS -continued

• Attach the label securely to your parcel.
• Complete the Ad-hoc Collection webform. https://www.parcelforce.com/sending-parcel/firearms-shipping-collection-process
• All fields in the webform are mandatory for completion to ensure the Firearms Helpdesk can process and book your request.
• Important: The cut-off time for next-day collection requests is 13:00. Collections are not permitted on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays.
• Please note: The email address you provide in the webform will be used to confirm your Ad-hoc collection booking.
• Wait for confirmation:
• The Firearms Helpdesk will process your request and email to confirm once your booking has been successfully processed.
• If rejected, the Firearms Helpdesk will make contact with you to resolve any issues and reprocess the booking.

RETURNS

Important advisory for returns By issuing a returns label to your recipient, you accept full responsibility for the manner in which the item is returned. This includes ensuring the shipment complies with all applicable Parcelforce Worldwide Prohibitions and Restrictions, Terms and Conditions, and specific regulations relating to the carriage of firearms. The recipient must not drop off items at any Post Office or Parcelforce Worldwide depot. All return collections must be arranged through our ad-hoc collection process, which you, as the sender, are required to book on their behalf.

How to send a return:

• The outbound address you usually enter should now be the returning address (account holder’s returning address).
• Both the Sending Address and Return Address on the label should display the returning address (account holder).
• Label Handling
• Once the label is created, either:
• Place it inside your outbound box with the item, or
• Email it to the returnee so they can print and affix it to the returning parcel.

RETURNS -Continued

• Complete the Ad-hoc Collection webform https://www.parcelforce.com/sending-parcel/firearms-shipping-collection-process
• Please ensure the collection address is the returning customer address.
• Wait for confirmation

CONTACT

• For queries relating to your booked Firearms Ad-hoc collection, Firearms tracking questions or missed Firearms collections, please contact the Firearms Helpdesk: firearms.helpdesk@parcelforce.co.uk
• For all account migration and account set up enquiries or issues and OBA and Click & Drop (including 3rd party/returns collection Click & Drop guidance)

questions or issues please contact the dedicated Account Migration Team on 0345 266 0846 or via email at: parcelforce.onenetwork@parcelforce.co.uk

• For general Click & Drop information, please see our Click & Drop help centre resources at: https://help.parcel.royalmail.com/hc/en-gb
• For pricing, invoice and billing enquiries, please email: pfwaccountquery@parcelforce.co.uk
• For enquiries or issues relating to collections that you have already received a confirmation code for, please contact the Customer Services Team on 03457 950 950 or at parcelforce@parcelforce.co.uk

Dear GTA Member

Following our Parcelforce broadcast last week, the GTA received an overwhelming number of emails from members about the migration from WDM to Click & Drop. With only a very few exceptions, most members have experienced significant difficulty with Parcelforce. We have struggled to respond to member emails due to the sheer volume received. Nonetheless, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who shared your experiences with us. The GTA finds itself in much the same position as its members: attempts to contact Parcelforce or obtain meaningful support have been met with indifference and a lack of understanding regarding the needs of the gun trade. In consequence, GTA Chairman Oskar Waktare has now written to the Parcelforce senior executive responsible for firearms accounts in the strongest possible terms, outlining the industry’s concerns. We await a response. To aid members, GTA has put together a basic support package (attached). This package covers the essentials: placing an order, arranging collection, managing delivery addresses, printing labels, and processing the manifest. You will still need to activate your own OBA and Click & Drop accounts. We apologise that – due to manpower constraints – we are unable to provide further support on issues beyond the scope of this package. GTA has also obtained an information sheet from Parcelforce (attached). In addition, Parcelforce has offered us a contact email for firearms‑related queries:

firearmshelpdesk@parcelforce.co.uk

We thank you for your patience. We will continue to do everything within our power to assist you. Paul Green, Technical Director tech@gtaltd.co.uk

Download: GTA Parcelforce Click Drop.pdf

Download: Parcelforce Useful Information .docx

Dear GTA Member

As Parcelforce account holders, you will be aware that Parcelforce and Royal Mail have been restructuring their operations, including streamlining their collection and delivery software. Unfortunately, these changes have been poorly administered and are affecting all of us.

Over recent months, RFD account holders have received multiple emails instructing them to activate an OBA account, then a Collect & Drop account. Most recently, RFDs were informed that the existing WDM online software will be switched off this coming Friday 13 March.

We fully understand the frustration these disruptions are causing. In response to your concerns, the GTA has been working tirelessly to engage with Parcelforce. However, the closure of the former Firearms Accounts Office has made communication extremely difficult.

The GTA has raised your concerns repeatedly, specifically requesting:

• A clear written procedure explaining how Firearms Account Holders should transition to the new systems.
• Reinstatement of the Firearms Accounts Office and helpdesk to ensure proper support during and after the transition.
• A postponement of the shutdown of the WDM online software until the issues affecting Firearms Account Holders have been properly addressed.

Please continue to share your concerns with us. We are collating a file for submission to Parcelforce management. We have also raised the potential risk to public safety posed by Parcelforce’s poor service. In particular, discussions are ongoing with the relevant authorities in light of the number of guns that have gone missing in transit.

Be assured we are doing everything humanly possible to resolve these problems. We are grateful for your understanding and support.

Best Regards

Paul Green, Technical Director

Feb 2026 – Latest update on lead restrictions

In 2021, DEFRA commissioned the HSE to examine the use of lead in ammunition. Following a series of public consultations and ongoing engagement with the British Shooting Sports Council, the HSE submitted its final recommendations to the government in December 2024.

This week, a statutory instrument was laid before Parliament, beginning the legislative process that will bring these recommendations into law. The new regulations will be phased in, with a full ban on possessing, using, or selling lead ammunition (subject to a few exemptions) coming into force on 1 April 2029.

Shotgun Ammunition

Shotgun shooters are likely to experience the most significant impact. Ammunition manufacturers will transition to non-lead alternatives and begin running down existing stock, meaning restrictions will become increasingly apparent well before April 2029.

• The possession, use, and sale of lead shot for live quarry shooting, as well as for indoor and outdoor target shooting, will be prohibited from 1 April 2029, with exemptions granted only for elite athletes.

Shotgun cartridge manufacturers have already heavily invested in R&D and machinery to produce effective steel alternatives to lead that meet the needs of most shooters. Only owners of guns with Damascus barrels and those using.410 shotguns are likely to require non-steel options.

Rifle Ammunition

Rifle Ammunition for Live Quarry Shooting

• The use and sale of large-calibre bullets (≥ 6.17 mm /.243 and above) for live quarry shooting will be prohibited from 1 April 2029.
• Small-calibre ammunition (< 6.17 mm /.243 and below) will remain unrestricted for live quarry shooting.

Rifle Ammunition for Target Shooting

• The use of lead bullets for outdoor target shooting will be prohibited from 1 April 2028, with a two-year transition period.
• However, a derogation will be available for ranges able to implement a lead management and recycling system approved by the competent authority (Environmental agency). This exemption will allow established facilities such as Bisley to continue operating as normal.
• Ranges unable to implement any recognised lead management and recycling control measures will be required to transition to non-lead alternatives within the two-year timeframe.

Airguns

After initial consultations with the HSE and subsequent recommendations to DEFRA, it was agreed that airguns would be removed from the scope of the lead restriction.

• Consequently, the sale and use of lead airgun pellets remain unrestricted for both target shooting and live quarry purposes.

Exemptions

The statutory instrument outlines several specific exemptions, including:

• Indoor shooting activities using bullets. These are exempt because bullet use can be controlled, and the lead can be collected and recycled effectively.
• Use by the Armed Forces and Police. The GTA has expressed concerns regarding potential supply-chain impacts, as civilian and government ammunition production is closely interconnected. It is not yet clear how the lead restriction may affect long-term availability.
• Athletes competing at national and international levels, such as the Commonwealth Games or the Olympics. Competitors will be required to provide evidence of their participation and carefully manage their ammunition usage.
• Shooting activities on registered ranges that have approved lead management and recycling systems in place. These ranges will be able to continue operating
• under the exemption.
• Museums and other specialist applications, where lead ammunition forms part of a collection or serves a specific technical purpose.

Paul Green, Technical Director

tech@gtaltd.co.uk

The Gun Trade Association (GTA) and British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) have jointly responded to a Home Office consultation to introduce a licensing system for sellers and importers of knives and bladed articles.

Describing the proposals as ‘doomed to failure’ GTA and BASC do not consider that any licensing regime for knife sellers would be effective in targeting knife crime.

If implemented the Home Office proposals would require private sellers of knives, specialist cutlery dealers, gun trade wholesalers, distributors and retailers to apply to the police for a licence that could cost up to £466 for a three-year period. 

BASC’s director of firearms, Bill Harriman, said: “Kitchen knives are the most commonly used item in homicides involving sharp instruments. Introducing a licensing system for sellers and importers of all knives and bladed articles ignores the obvious uncontrollable ease of access to kitchen knives in every home in the country. These number in the hundreds of millions. 

“If the Government wants to effectively tackle knife crime it needs to reject these proposals and address the root causes of some young people using kitchen knives and other bladed items as weapons”.

Stephen Jolly, GTA chief executive added: “The imposition of further costs on registered firearms dealers and other retailers already struggling with a heavy tax and regulatory burden is deeply undesirable. It is unlikely that private sellers and smaller traders would consider the cost of a license to be justified.

“The police service’s enforcement and administrative capacity appear not to have undergone any realistic form of assessment before this proposal was made. Most forces struggle to discharge their firearms licensing function leading to long delays and backlogs. Adding a further licensing burden for knives to already overstretched police services for firearms is unrealistic and doomed to failure”.

GTA and BASC and have recommended that the Home Office should conduct an in-depth review of the evidential basis for licensing those who deal in or import knives. When the results of that are known, the proposition should be reassessed against it.
 
Integrating law enforcement with social services, health, and education – a public health approach – is considered the most effective way to address the root causes of violence.

For more information, please contact the BASC media team at [email protected]