Police Scotland slash licensing dept by two thirds

[Gaz]

“My understanding is the 34 enquiry officers will be reduced to 14,” said Shedden. “I have been told by a number of enquiry officers themselves who have been quite upset about the process.”

https://ukshootingnews.wordpress.com/20 ... wo-thirds/

So they're on the brink of bringing in a massively complex and unwieldy airgun licensing system, and here they are slashing FEO numbers to the bone. Stupid little national socialists.

[Sixshot6]

“My understanding is the 34 enquiry officers will be reduced to 14,” said Shedden. “I have been told by a number of enquiry officers themselves who have been quite upset about the process.”

https://ukshootingnews.wordpress.com/20 ... wo-thirds/

So they're on the brink of bringing in a massively complex and unwieldy airgun licensing system, and here they are slashing FEO numbers to the bone. Stupid little national socialists.

Maybe it's police Scotland trolling the Scottish government in real life? By creating a great big cluster f*** for them. Reminds of how someone admitted to me (a dealer from Scotland) that part of the reason for the merger was they couldn't agree on a jumper.
They also probably looked a bit like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrDVsprWRCQ
Although I think the Popular Front would be one old man in a kilt making up Tayside police with his pet westie Scott and his Highland cow Angus (yes a cow called Angus).

[Egg on Leggs1]

How many guns can 14 administer = the number of guns left in Scotland.

[Sixshot6]

How many guns can 14 administer = the number of guns left in Scotland.

Its beyond parody at this stage I'm afraid. This is why Satire is dead, no need. Just report the full news and you get the same result.

[saddler]

But when the SNP have complete devolved power on firearms laws, they'll then not need the 14...

[Sixshot6]

But when then SNP have complete devolved power on firearms laws, they'll then not need the 14...

And someone sees the end game here.

[bradaz11]

we need police, but we take the police we need, train them to do a job that was done fairly competently in most cases by folks who cared, fire those folks, and then use an army of part timers who will constantly swap in and out as they are all trying to also do their real job. FFS. leave it alone, let the ppl who know what they are doing get on with it. afterall, how much money do they really save by making those guys redundant (when they aren't actually redundant, just more job stretching)??
20 officers, say total cost to gvmt of 30k a year, 600k... the new officers will rack up more in OT costs for doing the job for 6 months than these did for the year

[saddler]

Most FEOs here are civilian.

Some do NOT do their jobs....they have time and resources to pursue "office politics/SNP-friendly agendas" (I have personal knowledge of several extra-curricular schemes/diversions...none of which come under "firearms administration") (Misuse of public office? ?)

Sadly the deadwood will probably be untouched by the cuts & the good ones will be lost

[Sixshot6]

Most FEOs here are civilian.

Some do NOT do their jobs....they have time and resources to pursue "office politics/SNP-friendly agendas" (I have personal knowledge of several extra-curricular schemes/diversions...none of which come under "firearms administration") (Misuse of public office? ?)

Sadly the deadwood will probably be untouched by the cuts & the good ones will be lost

its all the hallmarks of bureaucracy at its well... its hard to say. I remember Thomas Sowell stating that his experience with it showed they cared more about the procedures being followed rather than an end result (see Sharon Shoesmith's defense of the department she oversaw in Haringey when Baby P was killed, she honestly thought that as procedure had been followed nothing was wrong. Thats why in another life these people could have been party Apparatchiks in the Soviet Union, just the procedure). I'm surprised Scotland has been allowed to go this way in public service. Certainly in England at least I've never seen this. Then again the fist rots from the head down and I guess if you lay the groundwork you'll end up the state the SNP want despite what labour (who seemed to help pour the petrol on that fire) or the conservatives wanted. I'm so sorry, its amazing how crap a system can get.

[25Pdr]

My FEO is a civilian who was a Armed Response Sgt. He is brilliant lad, very helpful and knowledgeable and as a Club Secretary, I have a lot of contact with him.

He recently advised me that I should get my FAC/SG renewal in early as there were changes taking place, which I did, four months early.

I've had my visit recently and he brought along a trainee as he is being made redundant. She was a pleasant Community PC from the Johnston Station who has never even fired a gun and knows nothing about them, she said the enquiry process in the area will now be handled by any one of five PCs in the Office. Obviously the new FEOs will be completely out of their depths which may be a good thing when it comes to justifying good reason but may turn into a nightmare if you get a jobsworth type. Asked her about how they will cope with future Airgun enquiries, she said they would never cope.

He mentioned although my application was four months early, with all the changes, (They recently move the Glasgow Office), don't expect to receive my FAC/SG in time. I said I had no intention of paying storage fees for 20 guns, he said no need as far as he's concerned my application is complete.

Watch this space.