UK arms transfer controls

The UK is one of the world's biggest arms exporters. We work to ensure that the UK's arms export rules are effective and rigorous.

What we do  

We monitor and assess UK arms transfer licensing to strengthen controls and make decision-making on arms sales more open.

To do this, we work with:

  • Government departments
  • parliamentarians and select committees
  • organisations (including Amnesty UK, BASIC, Christian Aid, International Alert, Omega Research Foundation and Oxfam GB) who form part of the UK Working Group on Arms, which co-ordinates work on UK and EU arms transfer issues
  • the media

Review of the Export Control Act (2002)

Much of our recent work focuses on the Government's review of its arms export legislation, the Export Control Act (2002).

The review started in June 2007 and is an opportunity to close loopholes in the existing laws. These include inadequate controls on arms brokering and trafficking, licensed production and the lack of clear and effective monitoring of end-use.

As part of the UK Working Group on Arms (UKWG), Saferworld is taking part in this review.

 

Report cover: A cartoon dove carries an olive aprig whilst dropping bombs

Read our report which looks at the UK Government's policy and practice concerning arms exports over the last ten years.

Download 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'

 

Reports and briefings

Improvements to UK arms export controls need to go further, press release, February 2008

The Review of the Export Control Act (2002), June 2007  

Human rights Annual Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee, June 2006 

UKWG on arms submission to the QSC - priorities for action, January 2006

Find out more

Read more information about our regional arms transfer controls work in the Africa, Europe and Asia pages.

Read more about our work on arms transfers at the Europe and international levels.

Find out how to support us

News

Supporting security in Bangladesh
Saferworld works with the police and local communities in Bangladesh to improve safety and security.
Saferworld annual review
In November Saferworld published its annual review
Actvities October 2008
Download Saferworld's activity report for October.
UN First Committee vote on the Arms Trade Treaty
The UN General Assembly's First Committee on Disarmament and International Security votes to work towards an Arms Trade Treaty
An open letter to international donors in Georgia
Saferworld and other NGOs send an open letter to the international Donors' Conference on Georgia being held in Brussels on 22nd October.