The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Was talking to an feo last week and discussing various things that have changed since we last spoke and I found this next bit worrying about visits as did he:

Due to cutbacks all shotgun renewals visits are dealt with by normal beat bobbies, change of addresses are dealt with by the local armed response unit, so now instead of a plain clothed feo in an unmarked car you now get a visit to your new address by a highly visible couple of police officers, now that should get the new neighbours talking. The only visits the feo's do is new sgc, new and renewal fac's and explosive certificates.

Apparently this has been rolled out in other areas and there have been many complaints, apparently in one area they were using officers from armed units who were actually suspended from armed duties until a license holder found out and made a complaint to his chief constable that how can a person found unfit to carry a firearm by his employer still be deemed ok to have access to license holders firearms on visits.

And some of it is farcical as in reality it doesn't save money as little commonsense or planning is involved when arranging visits now as for example one family he knows where 3 of them have sgc's and 1 an Fac all have renewals within a couple of months of each other had 4 seperate visits, whereas had it been the feo he would of done one for them all.

Anyone else encountered this yet?

I Have heard mention, but not had a specific report (date / time / location / ID of visitor / reason for visit / specific problem with visit). Let me know at work and I will add it to the evidential pile.

Iain
NRA Firearms Manager

A mate moved from temple cloud to peasedown st john (yes we have nice names in somerset!) And an arv from thornbury in a 4.0litre bmw drove over to check it iver, then had to come back a week later to check the shotguns ! Now for the unitiated in south west england geography its like an enfield cop going to seven oaks....hardly cost effctive....

the running man wrote:A mate moved from temple cloud to peasedown st john (yes we have nice names in somerset!) And an arv from thornbury in a 4.0litre bmw drove over to check it iver, then had to come back a week later to check the shotguns ! Now for the unitiated in south west england geography its like an enfield cop going to seven oaks....hardly cost effctive....

They did that in West London for a while - Hendon round to Heathrow which during busy times can be 60-90 minutes. Previously and now it was Hounslow - just a 15 minute journey. Think of the extra costs that they would expect us to pay! I complained when then missed an appointment completely and then the next time were 2 hours late only to get a veiled threat that my renewal might get awkward.

We moved house last January, only a few miles so still under the same force, the FEO who came out for the visit arrived in a huge Transit type van with "POLICE" in massive letters all over it, certainly gave the new neighbours something to talk about

That's the way it worked in the Northern Constabulary area for years.

One of my club members has made a complaint against his local police firearms department under the Data Protection Act for sending communications to his home address with Staffordshire Firearms Department written big across the front of the envelopes

Egg on Leggs1 wrote:One of my club members has made a complaint against his local police firearms department under the Data Protection Act for sending communications to his home address with Staffordshire Firearms Department written big across the front of the envelopes

Why under the Data Protection Act?

Chapuis wrote:

Egg on Leggs1 wrote:One of my club members has made a complaint against his local police firearms department under the Data Protection Act for sending communications to his home address with Staffordshire Firearms Department written big across the front of the envelopes

Why under the Data Protection Act?

Aren't the Police exempt from that anyway?

shugie wrote:

Chapuis wrote:

Egg on Leggs1 wrote:One of my club members has made a complaint against his local police firearms department under the Data Protection Act for sending communications to his home address with Staffordshire Firearms Department written big across the front of the envelopes

Why under the Data Protection Act?

Aren't the Police exempt from that anyway?

Police only have certain exemptions for obvious purposes otherwise they must comply.

Some small organisations are exempt from legal compliance but are advised to comply as exemption does not mean legal action cannot be taken for negligent administration.