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Happy Birthday and congratulations!
It is exactly one year since I submitted my application to renew my Firearm Certificate, Shotgun Certificate and Black Powder license.
Is this a record?
Are you aware that Durham Firearms Licensing are the worst performing in the whole of the UK.
I dread to think what else they might be getting wrong!

Hello
It would seem to be up there with regard to time taken, I have not seen any longer but would be interested to know of any.
The vast majority of renewals seem to take an extraordinary amount of time I have been waiting 5 months and have just been sent a 1 month extension, I think that you have to be very lucky with your licensing area or have a relative working there.

A 1 month extension?

Home Office guidance is that as long as you submit your renewal in a timely manner (8-12 weeks before expiry) and it's not renewed before it expires they are to give you a standard 8 week extension.

After that (if still not renewed) you should be issued with a Section 7 which allows you to keep and use your firearms legally.

Section 7...please check with your local firearms department re conditions. Some counties do not permit travel outside of the county.

I am aware of one renewal (about 2013 IIRC) where the applicant sent his application a birthday card c/o fireams licensing. The Certificate turned up a week later.

The 8-week extension to Certificates if the application is properly submitted in time is not in Guidance, it's in primary legislation - S28B Firearms Act 1968 as amended if you want to look it up. It follows that the police can't refuse it, and it doesn't matter whether or not they confirm it, you have a right to it (one of the very few rights under the Firearms Act - let's recognise them). A well-mannered FLD will send you a letter confirming the extension, which is useful to keep an RFD happy if you want to buy ammo, or even a firearm that you have an existing variation for, in the period covered. A bunch of chancers masquerading as an FLD will send you a letter indicating that they are doing you a favour by granting the extension.

Birthday greetings to the Chief Constable and the PCC are not being acknowledged. No surprises there.
Plodding along with section 7's but running out of ammo. Cannot even buy primers!

Took over 18 months for my son's FAC/SGC, submitted just before lockdown last year, application was returned then had to watch the website for when new applications could be submitted. He has been shooting for about six years and a member of two cubs. He eventually received his certificates a few of months ago.

i joined the NGO after BASC failed me.
Their firearms man sorted it with one email!
I await the FEO contacting me as I am now on his list!
I will have a witness present for the interview of course.
Not sure what to expect but not too hopeful that it will be amicable. I hope I am wrong.

Ironic really considering that recently the BASC podcast had a really pally interview with Durham Deputy Chief Constable Dave Orford about all the 'good practice' he has helped bring in via FELWG, lots of soft questions bigging up BASC cooperation with that group and not a single probing question about how poor a reputation Durham has with the shooting community...

https://www.buzzsprout.com/919033?clien ... ayer=large#

I hear he is moving on shortly. Let's hope his replacement is more helpful!