Do we assume the worst of our FLD?

[AN DU RU FOX]

Yes,i do so dearly wish i could have said No,but after bending over backwards,getting an alarm ,getting extra cabinet ,even after having shotguns and rimmies for years,they still wont give me open cert for the centerfires,even tho i have my own land and have done for twenty plus years , never checked any land, answered phonecalls ,or emails /letters, they lost one set of certs sgc/fac, in one phonecall to a niehbouring force i got more info and help/sympathy in five minutes than ive had in five years with my own , even an email to george wallace NGO, got 100% responce, im up for renewal next year ,and i,m contemplating doing it now that ive passed dsc1 as well, because i dont think they will even attempt too do it on time,

 

[shakey jake]

Only got experience of Cambs but they are spot on, helpful and quick. The only time they got awkward was when I put in to many land checks and they refused to look at any more land for me said by now I should have an open cause every bit of land was fine, put the letter in and all sorted.

 

[Taff]

The service that I have received has been very variable, firstly the FEO's that I have met have generally been helpful and to my mind a valuable point of contact between the local shooting community & firearms licensing departments, however on occasion Hampshire Police have been remarkably petty.

A couple of examples that come to mind are when I initially applied for a .22 rimfire for vermin shooting they were not prepared to grant me this based on the land that I would be shooting over, after 6 months or so of being fobbed off I made a complaint, it then transpired that the landowner also had a .22 authorised for use on the same land and my FAC arrived soon after.

The second example was when I took up deer stalking. I already had a suitable .243 rifle that I had possessed for many years for target shooting and after successfully buying a guided stalk for a Roe buck in the BDS auction I sent my certificate off for the appropriate conditioning.

The Buck season came and went and after many further enquires with Hampshire Police I eventually got the variation, however they were not happy. They claimed that it was most unusual to buy a stalking outing, they claimed that once I had been on the BDS stalk I would no longer have "good reason" for deer stalking and would be required to return my FAC for partial revocation although my use of the very same gun for target shooting would be unaffected.

I thought that it was quite absurd that every time I booked some stalking I would have to keep sending my FAC off to them to enable this and returning it to them again for the revocation afterwards. I made an official complaint which Hampshire Police rejected. I then contacted my M.P. and the Home Office and eventually I got a letter from the police permitting my stalking activities for the remaining duration of the FAC.

atb Tim

thats Hants for you, make it up as they go along.

 

[ndt man]

I agree, Hampshire Police need to take a close look at how their FLD is led.

atb Tim

don't get me going on this one ok im calm now I must admit the last 3 feo that have visited me have been real gems all knowledge on firearm and not bull****ers ( only ever had one he was a ex police inspector what a sh***bag he was ) the last feo 3 weeks ago knew his job and was fair in my opinion . and I also hear on the grapevine mr marsh is moving on .

 

[7daysinaweek]

under Merseyside fld, never had any problems with them, had a bit of a wait years ago when applying for my fac which was not a concern. all other aspects re open cert, variations have all been dealt with professionaly and good turnaround. have always found staff and feo especially kowledgeable and understanding of requirements and processess. been with them for twenty years.

 

[stratts]

Only got experience of Cambs but they are spot on, helpful and quick. The only time they got awkward was when I put in to many land checks and they refused to look at any more land for me said by now I should have an open cause every bit of land was fine, put the letter in and all sorted.

+1 dropped my forms in to Cambs when I sold the 308 last Wed for the notification/variation, and the cert landed through my door yesterday! Mint!!

 

[Kalahari]

I only have experience of North Wales in the UK. They have been absolutely fine. But, and it is a big but, I took a lot of trouble to make sure I had all the relevant paperwork lined up in advance, talked politely to everybody but tried to be firm in my opinions. Treat people well and make sure your case is backed up by evidence seems to help.

David.

 

[timbrayford]

don't get me going on this one ok im calm now I must admit the last 3 feo that have visited me have been real gems all knowledge on firearm and not bull****ers ( only ever had one he was a ex police inspector what a sh***bag he was ) the last feo 3 weeks ago knew his job and was fair in my opinion . and I also hear on the grapevine mr marsh is moving on .

Andy Marsh is apparently to become C.C. of Avon & Somerset in the new year, perhaps he will be transferring his head of firearms to A&S as well!

atb Tim

 

[AndrewT059]

Wiltshire have been brilliant, no complaints from me,

 

[8x57]

Regarding Gwent I would give an entirely different answer today as to that I would have given only a few years ago. They were appallingly bad, in fact words fail me as to just how bad they were at one time, but they have turned it around and for some time now they have been really quite good. Helpful friendly and generally very knowledgeable are the words that presently come to mind. Perhaps not perfect but getting there.

A friend has recently crossed back across the river from bear country (Glos) and was well relieved to have done so as there is an entirely different attitude over there.

 

[VSS]

North Wales Police firearms team have always given me excellent service and granted all my requests without a murmur.

 

[Psjunkie]

West Yorkshire have been brilliant with everything I've asked for from first application to variations to opening my ticket. Always polite and never turned me down for anything that I've asked for. Ticket just come back after asking for open cert took 2 weeks no questions asked and all rifles opened up. Had ticket just over 2 years

 

[dvbookshop]

Mine have speeded up somewhat lately on the variation front but are still painfully slow on grants and renewals. Their latest threatening renewal letter is a thing to behold. To sum them up they seem to try to enforce the law not as it is but as they would wish it to be, though they are unfailingly polite. What really bugs me about all licensing departments is their abuse of the right to apply conditions. This was never intended as a means to micro-manage or hinder shooters' enjoyment of their firearms and such conditions rarely have practical effect in terms of risk reduction.

 

[Brno2e]

All my dealings with Nottinghamshire have been well handled and the guy covering my area is first class.

 

[tozzybum]

Leicestershire have been brill,coterminous in days ,black powder only delay was the FEO on holiday and did it soon as he was back.Easy to phone them with queries no issues at all

 

[Kalahari]

North Wales Police firearms team have always given me excellent service and granted all my requests without a murmur.

Should've asked them for a new Discovery!!!!!

David.

 

[VSS]

Should've aske them for a new Discovery!!!!!

David.

Damn, why didn't I think of that...?

Oh well, I'll just have to be content with the open tickets and AOLQ for now. Maybe push them for a bit more next time...

 

[Whitebeard]

Northants have always been excellent no problems with any requests even when i asked to build my own rifle and re-barrel anotherMy last FEO did try it on a bit when we first met in 1996 but has been nothing but proffessional and straight once he knew i would not take any $hit, sadly he left earlier this year and i have a new FEO whom i have not met yet and whos name i dont even know.Ian.

 

[Yoda]

Andy Marsh is apparently to become C.C. of Avon & Somerset in the new year, perhaps he will be transferring his head of firearms to A&S as well!

atb Tim

Oh my god not another one that's been under investigation. Why have we got to have all the crooked dregs down here?
Google Nick Gargan and see what we've just got rid of!!
No wonder we call them Pike down here
They normally go round in groups, pick on the vulnerable and rot from the head down.

 

[kes]

I have always been with Cheshire. Initially I was refused a .22 on a 200 acre farm with no footpaths but was approved on another farm in Hereford, not the best FEO.
That Cert lapsed whilst opportunity was minimal and children and career were the main focus. On moving back to proper country I applied again and the old cert was still in my stuff and the awarding FEO was an absolute gentleman, a shooting and fishing man who I judged to be someone who would become a friend. Sadly he retired and I met him in a gun shop choosing sea trout flies to use in his retirement. He recognised me as I him and we shook hands - I still wish him well. The next was not so good as he didnt know the law and had 'norms' given to him which he couldnt see beyond. Since then, I have had nothing but good and considerate service, better than previously, so much so I have defended them against criticism on here and elsewhere. They seem to me to have improved to a point where they rate very well against many and above a considerable number for service.
I would venture to suggest however, that knowing your stuff is essential with all FEO's - a knowledgeable gun is usually a 'safe bet'.