ACPO: Firearms licence holders are no cash cow

[Gaz]

The cost of a firearms licence has not changed since 2001 and at the time of writing, the taxpayer is subsiding shooters to a sum in the region of more than £17 million per year so the minority may legally operate firearms.

Shooters are charged £50 to be granted a five-year firearms licence. Following research in more than 20 different police forces, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has estimated the cost of processing such an application to be in the region of £200.

This creates a deficit between the cost of processing the application and the fee paid which is currently being picked up by the tax payer, rather than those who benefit from the licence. As such ACPO submitted a proposal to the Home Office to increase fees in licensing.

http://www.acpo.presscentre.com/Press-R ... s-278.aspx

I note that Chief Constable Marsh mentions ACPO are working with the 4-member strong Gun Control Network...

[Christel]

What about the council tax, isn't some of that going to the police? So we are paying twice?

Also it is mentioned that the tax payer is picking up the bill, I pay tax towards loads of things I never use, public transport, roads, library, probably more I do not know about.

If the licensing laws were upgraded to something that was not so medieval then it would be very easy to renew a license and more cost effective. Look at the New Zealand structure, once approved, it does not matter which calibre.

[IainWR]

Mr Marsh also makes (again) the spurious comparision between firearms licencing and rod licences.

Firearms licencing contributes nothing to the sport - it gets in the way. Rod licences are a financial contribution to the Environment Agency's work on maintaining the fish stock through clean rivers, fish ladders and suchlike (or at any rate, that's what their website says, and I'm sure the Government wouldn't publish that if it weren't the truth).

A firearm certificate allows you to buy a gun. A rod licence allows you to go fishing. A more accurate comparision would be to add to FAC costs the cost of the MoD licence to rent range space, and the cost of HOA for the club.

And if you want to, you can go fishing off the coast at no cost at all - a bent pin, worm and a piece of string will work. You do not need to be a Registered Tackle Dealer to assemble such a lethal (to the fish) device.

[Sandgroper]

Looks like you touched a nerve, Gaz!

[Mikaveli]

How much does it cost to police the road network and motorists?

Apparently, just counting fatal road accidents, it costs us £4.5 billion on an average year - or around £173 per driver.

I'd like to see the ACPO propose a ten year driving licence renewal for £1,700!

[Sandgroper]

What about the council tax, isn't some of that going to the police? So we are paying twice?

Also it is mentioned that the tax payer is picking up the bill, I pay tax towards loads of things I never use, public transport, roads, library, probably more I do not know about.

If the licensing laws were upgraded to something that was not so medieval then it would be very easy to renew a license and more cost effective. Look at the New Zealand structure, once approved, it does not matter which calibre.

Every since Polchraine (IIRC) first mentioned it, it's slowly grown into a right bugbear for me - I really need to pull my finger out and annoy some MPs about it!

[saddler]

This creates a deficit between the cost of processing the application and the fee paid which is currently being picked up by the tax payer, rather than those who benefit from the licence.

I don't see how I personally benefit from "the licence"
The (TAX PAYING) PUBLIC is the beneficiary - as it is they who benefit from "the public safety" aspect of licensing...

What about the pre-1968 Act, when the shotgun licence cost a fraction of today's cost and was issued/purchased over the counter at the local Post Office?
Change for the good? NO
Better value for money? NO
Less bureaucracy/administrative interference since the Police took over licensing? NO

What about individual forces each interpreting the wording of the Firearms Acts through he filter of local office politics/personnels personal likes & dislikes?
Does THAT lead to a more efficient service...or more taxpayers money being p1ssed against the wall?

[Meaty]

When it compares the price of an fac to the price of a fishing licence it is very misleading as it quotes the figure for Migratory fish ie a Salmon fishing licence (£360 for 5 years)! The actual cost of a standard fishing licence ie Non migratory fish and trout is £27.00 pa. (£135.00)
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/ho ... 31497.aspx
More smoke and mirrors from Mr.Marsh

[dromia]

Methinks Mr Gas should do a rebuttal to his rebuttal.

[Primer]

And what about the cost of policing our town centres for all the drunks, I pay towards that in my taxes yet I don't go drinking in my local town (too many tw@ts about these days) so I don't benefit.

I wouldn't mind paying extra if they were going to improve the service.