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My certificates expire in just over three weeks, the day I got the letter the expiry letter (april/ may time) I completed the necessary paperwork, posted it back and paid the police (they called me to take card payment). With that in mind I knew they were dealing with it. About 3 weeks ago I emailed them to check everything was progressing and got a quick response that it was. However, I'd have expected to have heard back about a FEO visit now. It feels like they're beginning to cut it quite fine.

Should I start considering making arrangements in case they haven't renewed in time? Obviously, this isn't my fault and I've done everything in a timely manner but I don't want to hold my firearms without the necessary paperwork. I know our constabulary are short staffed but I'd have expected things like renewals that are fairly time critical to be ticked off quite quickly, in theory, they should be straightforward - this will be my third renewal.

Should I give them another week or follow up sooner rather than later?

Had a similar scenario when I renewed my coterminous certificates in 2016.

I would suggest that you keep on at them until they get it sorted, don't leave it until the last minute.

You have done your part, see to it that they do theirs and I suggest that you keep hard copies of all relevant emails including read receipts.

Plus, ask them for a dated receipt of the card payment to prove that you have paid the necessary fees on time.

ukrifleman

follow up in writing ! if you stay quiet you won't be dealt with any quicker, writing/email is always best as there is a papertrail and phoning often doesnt get results, tell them if, due to their inability to proccess your paperwork in good time, you have to lodge any of your guns or ammo then you will expect them to foot the bill! ( they will probably tell you its not Force policy, but why should you suffer loss for their incompetance ?)

I had the same issue in 2012 with Lomcolnshire, give them another call, if they look like it's not going to come before the renewal insist they give you a "Section 7" which is proof that you have the right to hold your rifles and Shot guns, you can't buy or sell but it means you don't have to pay for storage. It's not your fault they cannot cope.

Alan

As said above, they will most probably issue a temporary certificate if you applied within the stated timescales.

I don't know about your force, but in mine unless you chase them up you just sit at the bottom of the pile...

The law changed earlier this year

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... rtificates

Yes, but they still issue a temporary certificate:

"In the event that the application for renewal cannot be determined before the extended certificate expires, police forces may continue to issue a temporary permit to the applicant under section 7 of the Firearms Act 1968 authorising their continued possession of firearms and ammunition to which the expired certificate applies. Section 7 permits issued in these circumstances can allow for the continued possession of the firearms and ammunition that are specified on the applicant’s expired certificate but not the acquisition or purchase of additional firearms or ammunition."

They won’t issue a temporary cert. Your old cert is valid for 8 weeks after the expiry date as long as you sent it in for renewal on time.

Furiouspilgrim wrote:They won’t issue a temporary cert. Your old cert is valid for 8 weeks after the expiry date as long as you sent it in for renewal on time.

As long as you have sent the renewal in, not the FAC. Don't send the FAC in, too late now if it has gone in. It's still valid but you'll have proof of the dates and firearm details if you kept it.

Mattnall wrote:

Furiouspilgrim wrote:They won’t issue a temporary cert. Your old cert is valid for 8 weeks after the expiry date as long as you sent it in for renewal on time.

As long as you have sent the renewal in, not the FAC. Don't send the FAC in, too late now if it has gone in. It's still valid but you'll have proof of the dates and firearm details if you kept it.

It states in the notes for form 201 not to send the cert in, just a signed and dated copy. You only send in a FAC for variation.