Certificate loss in post .

[Dustyman]

Just a heads up , one of our syndicate members has had his certificate stolen in the post . It was sent to police firearms for a variation and therefore was adressed as such . It was sent registered post but this apparently has no guarantee of safe delivery only signed either end for proof of delivery . The letter arrived but had been torn open and the certificate removed . Special delivery apparently is safer . Also we are asking if the police if there is a different way to address firearms related postage to them . Just a warning that I though might be worth flagging up . Sorry if covered before or if most already know but I must say I didn't realise the difference between the two postal services , Ian

[ovenpaa]

That is not good. We had a EFP lost in the post when coming back to us however everything sent to the Police has arrived, all we do is first class sign for.

[davidh195]

Signed/recorded for is not always a signature for each individual letter for bulk receivers it seems to be for a bag of mail. The special delivery letters can also also be mixed in the same bag so are not always accounted for.

David

[Triffid]

I also know of a certificate holder who was targeted by burglars specifically for his firearms two weeks after doing his renewal. The burglars came equipped to rip his safe off the wall and walk out with the whole thing, leaving the rest of the house pretty much untouched. The obvious inference is that the Post Office is 'leaky'. Once you know what packaging the Police use when posting certificates, they are pretty obvious.

For these reasons I always double-bag my certificates when sending them in to the Police, with the outer one just having the generic Police address and the inner addressed to the Firearms Department. I also provide an SAE and request that the Police use it to return my certificates to me; even so they don't always use them, preferring good old second class, non-recorded, un-tracked, unsigned for mail.

Personally I don't believe that additional recorded delivery etc mail options add anything, as the OP has discovered.

Triffid

[25Pdr]

Always send stuff to Police Recorded Delivery as recommended by them, no guarantee it will get there but at least you have some proof you sent something. Note they always return stuff by normal post.

My certificate went missing a few years ago, although sent recorded, Post Office did nothing and Police simply issued me a free replacement.

I think the main problem with missing mail is usually down to rogue Postmen,(I know of a couple of cases), usually someone who has a drink problem, gets p*** and is not fit to do his rounds, simply dumps them instead. By the time he is discovered thousand of items are lost.

BTW Since the Police are so keen to put Firearm Holders under the microscope, perhaps they should also keep a close eye on certain types of people running a lot of Post offices nowadays as a missing FAC with permission to buy is a major security risk.

[Polchraine]

Registered? I don't believe they offer that service any longer. There is "Special Delivery Guaranteed", "Tracked 24" and "Signed For". Which service was it?

The first two are trackable throughout with the first and last requiring a signature.

The bulk delivery with one signature is no real proof either, the company receiving gets a list and a bag and rarely is it checked fully. If I am paying for a service, I would expect the Royal Mail to get te signature I have requested and paid for, for MY specific item.

[Daryll]

As I work 5 minutes drive from my local Police HQ, I always deliver my renewals and variations by hand, it saves a couple of days in the postal system and the risk of it getting "lost".

As stated, they're sent out by normal post, so thats the main risk for me...

I'm currently waiting for a varied FAC to appear on my doormat, if it doesn't appear in the next few days I'll be ringing to make sure it hasn't got lost somewhere.

[sidawson]

i won't use recorded delivery as it just gets put through the door don't think i've had to sign for one in 10 years living here, mind you the police headquarters is only 20 mins away so i tend to drop it off when i need to send anything to them.

[saddler]

Always collect my certificate(s) from the headquarters in person.
Hand over the varied one at the same time.
Do ALL admin via email (where applicable) & when not I use an address label printer so the package looks more official.

Prefer the ccollection/face to face option as it allows me to check for typos & the like.
It's also a mooch around Edinburgh wiv the sossy dags; there is a dog shop nearby they like, plus a few good parks.

[breacher]

Just a thought........

When sending back a certificate for renewal etc, its going to be destroyed anyway. What about cutting out the address part from the certificate and mention in covering note.

Certainly the OP could not be criticised for doing it in future !!