File on 4 Investigates - Locked and Downloaded: The rise in 3D printed guns

Download Locked and Downloaded: The rise in 3D printed guns

Police have dealt with scores of cases involving home-made 3D printed guns in the UK in the last three years. Data obtained by File on 4 Investigates from the National Crime Agency shows that criminals and extremists have attempted to manufacture the weapons.

We hear from police who successfully prosecuted a group who had manufactured printed firearms to sell on to criminal gangs. As Adrian Goldberg asks, how much of a threat are these printed weapons in the UK and what can be done to deter people from making them?

Producer: Paul Grant
Technical Producers: Cameron Ward & Nicky Edwards
Production Co-ordinator: Tim Fernley
Editor: Tara McDermott

Published on Tuesday, 12th May 2026.

Available Podcasts from File on 4 Investigates

Subscribe to File on 4 Investigates

We are not the BBC, we only list available podcasts. To find out more about the programme including episodes available on BBC iPlayer, go to the File on 4 Investigates webpage.