Query

[douglas670]

Hi All,
firearms license up for renewal again, however when the Officer called round for a little chat regarding the renewal he checked my firearms that were held against his lest from the Police computer.
To my horror there were two items that didnt match up.

No 1 - a rifle that I had sold in July this year hadnt been taken off their database, but lucky i had an email with the firearms dept acknowleging reciept of this.

No2 - Rifle which I had bought in April ,they had no knowledge of !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, unfortunately any email of proof has either been deleted by mistake or off the top of my head I dropped a letter into the dept itself (done this a few times in the past) The Rfd who i got it off did put it on my certificate and i would have trused him 100% to have informed the Police also as he is a very conscientious man.

Incase the S**T Hits the fan (I am a member of BASC) should I get onto them incase anything happens, the Enquiry officer did say he would check what was held at the department incase anything was missed.
It would have been so unlike me not to have sent an email or letter taken personally in, but after the No1 scenario above it could be them who made the mistake, fingers crossed.
There have been few mishaps on their end over the years IE the inspector not signing the license or the wrong calibre put on both times i had to take it back, so i guess anything could have happened to a letter or email, does anyone know if they keep emails or scan them when they are contacted

just goes to show take or keep copies of any transactions.
regards
Douglas

[dromia]

An administrative error as such should not have any serious consequences, it should just be put right. So long as the firearm is there and traceable it should not be problem, it is only if the police have reason to think that there was anything dodgy about the rifle and its history that anything serious would come of it.

It is important to keep records just so that things can be cleared up at the time or that you do have evidence in the unlikely event that an FEO would want to be awkward.

I would contact the RFD and get him to check his records as backup. The FLO should have noticed your lack of informing them, if that is what you did, when the RFD notified them of the transaction and raised it then.

I think the fact that they missed another of your notifications indicates that they have their own record keeping issues.

For peace of mind I would contact BASC though and get their take on it, you are paying them money after all and that is what they say they are there for.

[ovenpaa]

I had a similar issue during my telephone interview when I was renewing my SGC start of this year. Two discrepancies including one I had sold was still on the records as being held by me and one which I had was listed as scrapped off. The FEO made notes and said he would amend the system at his end.

[Blackstuff]

99/100 this is a simple admin error on their part, as Dromia says, its unlikely you have anything to worry about

[ronboy]

I know this is a bit late in your case but always photocopy everything but everything and keep the lot in a big folder, where you know it's safe. Currently I have sent off my cert for an aditional pop gun and I keep a copy of my cert and a copy of the form and the PO receipt. I've still got a copy of my second cert from the 60s. All the best Ronboy

[douglas670]

thanks to one and all
i will keep you informed
douglas

[saddler]

Nothing that they do surprises me anymore

Put my FAC in for a one-for-one in March - no sign of it yet!

Put a formal complaint in two weeks back - they lost that (the professional standards dept. that is) so had to send a copy by e-mail.

Seems that while the SNP are keen to push through legialstion to ban guns, the HQ staff are pre-empting the ban in as many cases as they can get away with.

Have had ALL SORTS of mixed up paperwork from them in the past, inc. a Remington pump action shotgun listed by them as "semi-auto"
They also refused my request to grant a Temp Section 7 when my FAC/SGC was up for renewal - yet they had enough manpower for uniformed officers to "call by" the RFD where I'd lodged the guns to make sure that I had done so & was not still in possesion of them...

Quite recently when informing them of a sale of a 12-bore I also enquired about the above FAC variation...I was emailed back asking "are you with us for your FAC" (they are co-terminous!! You'd think they'd be linked somehow on the PC - as I said - you'd think that, but you'd be wrong!!)

Have also had my 12-ga rifled slugs called "cop killers" (as far as I know the only police officer killed by anything of that nature was the GMP officer shot by a colleague in tarining with a barrier round - NOT the same as a 12-ga rifled slug)

From providing an average service they must now be one of the worst in the UK for time delays, paperwork errors, fobbed off excuses, staff away on holiday, buck passing, etc.
They seem to be getting worse - wonder if it's by design or bad management?

[douglas670]

Yes L & B are quite something, once when i had a blackpowder musket for reenactment i made enquiries about target shooting with it and was told i would have to find out the answer myself!!!!
Another time they wonderd why i put in so many variations for 303 calibres( that i collected) until i pointed out the different types thru the ages.
nothing surprises me with them

[Chuck]

Saddler, sounds like Strathclyde.....

[douglas670]

Hi all
Update
Pooped into the Police HQ earlier to get this sorted out as the FEO only works two days a week.
They d have copies of the email sent when i purchaed the rifle and also one for selling the other, just that they hadnt taken one off the list or added the other.
Really annoyed as I have had sleepless nights since lastweek as one could say I was holding a firearm illegally. All the onus seemed to be for me to proove I had notified them, rather than them going thru the records to see if any mistake on their part (as they are always correct)
Whats the point in complaining especially when the renewal is now up along with a variation. All i would get is a sorry.
thanks to one and all fo advice and help
douglas