Northern Ireland licensing time

Big Bang Theory

Well-Known Member
So. I applied for a variation on the 10th of April. Still waiting. I applied online as the paper applications are being, or have just been, phased out. I spoke to the RFD who has been holding my (fully paid for) rifle ever since to let him know I hadn’t died or anything. He said ‘don’t worry, someone has just come in who put his variation in last December....’.

Value for money? Good turnaround? I don’t think so.
 
Took a variation form into Police Scotland Friday and it was granted while I waited. Only took about 20 minutes
 
Seriously though, do we not as law abiding members of the firearms community not have any say, weight or sway when it comes to issues that affect us? Disappointing for anyone who subscribed to any outfit that says they will defend shooters rights, fight for our rights and stand our corner?
 
Have you thought about..
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moving to Scotland. :lol:


[sorry somewhat private joke between myself and another member];)
 
The whole point of the new on-line system was to drastically cut waiting times.

I last did a variation about 18 months ago, did it on line, returned in six or seven days.

I assume you are adding a rifle to your license and not doing a one on one off in the shop?
 
Yes adding a rifle. When I got my FAC about a year and a half ago it took 3 weeks start to finish. Now it appears they have quite a backlog again.
 
phone has if you are a member......they agreed to double the cost and said it would be better..it will never be better even at 4 times the cost
 
Thank you for your advice! I am a member so phoned them today. I swear I could hear eyes rolling over the phone. I’ve to tell them if I’ve had no joy in two weeks. What they can do I don’t know but this is getting beyond a joke....
 
A goodly while back I had a grant that had been away for about a year, and certainly at that time anything between 6 months and 2 years was the normal range so this wasn't a remarkable event. I was talking to someone in BASC about another matter and mentioned this and they said they would investigate. As a result the firearms people were on the phone to me within a few days and the certificate came not long afterwards. So, don't knock it until you see how it pans out but keep in mind that April isn't so very long ago judged against the scale of "how it used to be."
 
You can still do paper applications and they are being issued far quicker.
The online system is a loophole for the PSNI to get away with for taking forever to process applications as they are only responsible once the company who processes the online applications agrees that all your paperwork is in order.
So for example, you submit your application and the online processing company takes six months to process your application. This is out of the PSNI hands and are not responsible. Once the online company says all ok they hand it to the PSNI who have to deal with it within 28 days.
 
A goodly while back I had a grant that had been away for about a year, and certainly at that time anything between 6 months and 2 years was the normal range so this wasn't a remarkable event. I was talking to someone in BASC about another matter and mentioned this and they said they would investigate. As a result the firearms people were on the phone to me within a few days and the certificate came not long afterwards. So, don't knock it until you see how it pans out but keep in mind that April isn't so very long ago judged against the scale of "how it used to be."


I can concur with everything in the above post, and April is nothing compared to the past I remember after waiting 11 months just giving up waiting on the postman altogether those where the good old days alright.
 
You can still do paper applications and they are being issued far quicker.
The online system is a loophole for the PSNI to get away with for taking forever to process applications as they are only responsible once the company who processes the online applications agrees that all your paperwork is in order.
So for example, you submit your application and the online processing company takes six months to process your application. This is out of the PSNI hands and are not responsible. Once the online company says all ok they hand it to the PSNI who have to deal with it within 28 days.

As far as I’m aware paper applications stopped on the 9th of this month. Mine has been with a Senior Manager in PSNI since the 31st of May. I’d be interested to hear where you got your information about them having to deal with it within 28 days.....
 
You can still do paper applications and they are being issued far quicker.
The online system is a loophole for the PSNI to get away with for taking forever to process applications as they are only responsible once the company who processes the online applications agrees that all your paperwork is in order.
So for example, you submit your application and the online processing company takes six months to process your application. This is out of the PSNI hands and are not responsible. Once the online company says all ok they hand it to the PSNI who have to deal with it within 28 days.

I'm afraid you are grossly misinformed.

As stated, you can no longer apply on paper.

There is no processing company. There is the company that is contracted to maintain the software, but they do not have anything to do with the applications. All processing of the FACs is undertaken by PSNI Firearms Licensing.

There is nothing to say that the PSNI have 28 days to process your application.
 
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