FACs & SGCs have shrunk.

[Pippin89]

I got my variation back yesterday (3 working day, thank you Sussex!) and it was still A4. I assume they are using up A4 paper and will go to A5 when its all gone. Not looking forward to that. Lets just have an RFID photo card that links to an electronic database!

I've put that forward through various channels - ignored.

It would be much easier for the police - submit a variation on line, they change the data base and email you back with a .pdf of approved holdings. Couple of issue would be with dealers - how could they read the card without investment? Or how would a private face to face sale work?

Really simply with an online portal. You log in as yourself, and see a list of your firearms. You click on one that you want to sell, input the sellers name, address, certificate number and it comes back confirming they have the authority to purchase. Once you have made the sale, you click on another button that completes the transfer. Buyer logs into their portal and accepts the transfer. Check authority, complete transfer and both parties notify police all in one smooth transaction. RFD's could use a similar system or have a cheap RFID scanner that will show them all of the authorities to purchase including ammo. Could actually be a really simple system. I know some of the Technophobes may disagree... but times have changed and the FELU's need to keep up.

[Blackstuff]

If my FLDs adoption of technology is anything to go by, assuming private ownership of firearms is still a thing, expect that to come in about 2045

[Polchraine]

Really simply with an online portal. You log in as yourself, and see a list of your firearms. You click on one that you want to sell, input the sellers name, address, certificate number and it comes back confirming they have the authority to purchase. Once you have made the sale, you click on another button that completes the transfer. Buyer logs into their portal and accepts the transfer. Check authority, complete transfer and both parties notify police all in one smooth transaction. RFD's could use a similar system or have a cheap RFID scanner that will show them all of the authorities to purchase including ammo. Could actually be a really simple system. I know some of the Technophobes may disagree... but times have changed and the FELU's need to keep up.

There are ways around it but as I have mentioned in another discussion - the police don't seem to understand online security! For example, incoming emails are scnned automatically and any attachment opened - if the attachment is password protected or encrypted, the email is dumped and restriction placed on the recipients access to their systems and the senders address is blocked. My FEO was not happy (with his IT team, not me) when I sent a protected email. They then tell us to take great care of firearms and manage our own security whilst asking for sensitive data "in the clear"!

Am meeting the Met Commissioner, several DCC/ACCs and Commanders tomorrow - this is a subject on my list!