Essex Police Remove Guns and Cancel Licences.

[Tower75]

So, I'll take it with a pinch of salt, but ultimately, I live in Essex, so I can have my firearms taken from me just 'cos?

[Blackstuff]

All firearms are in our possession at the whim of the Chief Constable of each policing area, thats been the case since 1968. Once confiscated its then down to the Police to defend their actions with the possibility that they got it wrong and end up getting sued (IIRC this was given as the official reason why Hamiltons guns were never taken from him and why Athertons guns were returned to him).

It just looks like this Chief Constable is betting that he is going to be able to defend his actions without getting his force sent to court/losing in court.

[HALODIN]

My comment was just a general comment, it wasn't in reply to yours.

I assumed the police knew there had been some domestic violence, yet charges weren't forthcoming... I suspect it wasn't their first offence!

Yes it's bound to happen...

Not disagreeing Halodin but Gaz makes some good points too.

My point was not what was done but how it will inevitably be hyped into hysterical rhetoric by a few lazy hacks.

[HALODIN]

Too true.

Maybe if Central Scotland Police or Thames Valley had bothered to do something like this we'd still have SLR's and pistols tesnews

[dromia]

Of course people who create doubt about their fitness to hold firearms should be looked into, that is the whole purpose of firearms licensing.

it does look a bit odd though when the revocations come after a review, surely these reviews should be ongoing on an individual basis in real time. Looks to me from the article that Essex haven't been doing their job and are now playing catch up, I wonder how far back they have gone with checking up on previous that would de-barr someone from having an FAC and how long they were a potential threat before Essex had its "review". Sounds like they are trying to make good news out of it to cover up their lack of implementation in the past, looks like more and more FLA's are applying the Durham model of firearms licensing to their operation.

Say no to everything and then let the courts decide if someone appeals, then when things go belly up its not their fault.

[zanes]

it does look a bit odd though when the revocations come after a review, surely these reviews should be ongoing on an individual basis in real time. Looks to me from the article that Essex haven't been doing their job and are now playing catch up, I wonder how far back they have gone with checking up on previous that would de-barr someone from having an FAC and how long they were a potential threat before Essex had its "review". Sounds like they are trying to make good news out of it to cover up their lack of implementation in the past, looks like more and more FLA's are applying the Durham model of firearms licensing to their operation.

Exactly what I thought-big loud press release and hope no one asks too many questions.

[SevenSixTwo]

What would people sue for? Denial of right to hobby?...

[Gaz]

Say no to everything and then let the courts decide if someone appeals, then when things go belly up its not their fault.

And in the process create lots of handy legal precedents that keep the police on a predictable path for future interventions. Win-win!

[the running man]

After reading a few articles on this topic, I can only surmise that the folk who have had guns confiscated were not on the police radar for being out collecting for the red cross.....

[Dark Skies]

I've yet to see a police press release that didn't make seizure of legally owned property sound perfectly reasonable. I'll reserve my opinion until some facts are presented. Suffice to say when the police refer to a 'violent domestic' it could span anything from a hands on assault of a spouse to very loud arguing with foul language. 'Violent' is a useful word in police releases because it conjures up an image of the firearm holder assaulting his / her spouse - despite the fact that it could just as easily be the other way around. People just naturally assume that the FAC holder is the one up to no good - because they've been conditioned to think that way.