The National Gamekeepers' Organisation

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The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) has welcomed the publication of a major inspection into fi****ms licensing in England and Wales by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). If carried through to its ultimate conclusion, this will be the biggest shakeup of fi****ms legislation and licensing since 1968.

The report concludes that the present system is not fit for purpose and makes 23 recommendations covering the structure of fi****ms licensing, consistency of decision-making, governance, training, medical monitoring, technology and fi****ms law.

The NGO believes that national reform could improve public safety and end the postcode lottery, but further controls must be evidence-led and proportionate.

Read more:

https://nationalgamekeepers.org.uk/articles/a-reform-of-the-national-fi****ms-licensing-system-could-improve-public-safety-and-end-the

Rodenticide Course – Ready to Go!

Everything's set up and one of our training providers, Mike is ready to deliver today's Rodenticide Course for gamekeepers.

Rat control is a vital part of the job, and courses like this help keepers use rodenticides safely, responsibly, and in line with best practice and the law.

NGO Loader Training — Now Online

The long-established NGO Loader Training Course is now available online through the Shooting & Hunting Academy.

Developed by the National Gamekeepers' Organisation, this trusted course sets the professional standard for shoot day loaders — covering shotgun safety, etiquette, risk assessment, loading techniques, gun care and fi****ms legislation.

Ideal for anyone who is an experienced loader

Complete at your own pace

Official digital certificate on successful completion

Cost: £120

Enrol now: https://www.shootingandhuntingacademy.co.uk/course/ngo-loaders-best-practice-course

The latest issue of Keeping the Balance should be hitting our members' doorsteps imminently, so keep your eyes peeled!

In this issue:

•Need to know: The process for prescribing feed with antibiotics for gamebirds
•Illegal off-roading: the hidden cost to wildlife and the countryside
•First aid essentials for gamekeepers
•Inside the College of Policing’s new fi****ms licensing training programme
•Roe deer stalking: A bevy of bucks
•What if we had no gamekeepers?
•Legal: From clicks to consequences

Plus the latest news, NGO Branch news and more…

It’s good to see the petition from our Fisheries Branch receiving more coverage, this time in Trout & Salmon magazine.

The petition remains ‘live’ and will be until 26 December - so if you haven’t signed it yet, there’s still plenty of time.

https://troutandsalmon.com/news/cormorant-petition-defra-response/

Cormorant petition: what Defra said | Trout & Salmon Defra says proposals to allow easier control of cormorants, goosanders and mergansers on fisheries are being analysed after a 10,000-name petition.

DMQ Deer Night Shooting Course – South Yorkshire

A one-day DMQ Deer Night Shooting Course is being held at Wentworth Park, South Yorkshire, on Tuesday 15 September 2026.

The course is aimed at deer managers operating in areas where night licences are increasingly being issued to help reduce and manage local deer populations.

Delivered from 1pm through into the evening, candidates will be required to complete:

• A multiple-choice question paper
• Animal identification using images taken at night
• A night shooting safety test
• A night shooting test

Candidates must have completed DSC1 as a prerequisite, demonstrating knowledge of deer behaviour and ecology, together with a basic aptitude and safety level with fi****ms. DSC2 is likely to be held by many candidates, although it is not essential.

Course cost: £252

Location: Wentworth Park, Wood Nook, S62 7UN

To book, please contact Mike Fellows directly:

Telephone: 07940 909250
Email: [email protected]

Please note that certificates may take up to four weeks to be received.

The latest NPCC fi****ms licensing statistics present a mixed picture across England and Wales.

Whilst some forces continue to provide an efficient and timely service to certificate holders, significant differences in performance remain and there are still areas of concern that cannot be ignored.

Read more:

https://nationalgamekeepers.org.uk/articles/ngo-response-to-the-latest-npcc-fi****ms-licensing-statistics-q1-2026-27