deerstalker.308
Well-Known Member
Nope
Just had an unexpected home visit from 3 officers.
- Thread starter 12gsnapcaps
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Following this, be interesting to see if they were legit. They would have not been let in by me without pics of their ID and checking with force HQ.
It appears Guntrader has caused loads of problems, however they may not be around much longer as Barclays have closed/are closing their bank accounts.
It appears Guntrader has caused loads of problems, however they may not be around much longer as Barclays have closed/are closing their bank accounts.
I stand corrected.
As an FAC holder, you might find its a condition
of having a certificate to let police enter your place of storage withoutappointment warrant.
Im not sure however, that turning away an un-announced visit from legit PC/DCs sans warrant, would do you many favours, or speed up your next variation.
I think its sensible to ask for ID, and fair to wait until you have confirmation before letting someone in.
As an FAC holder, you might find its a condition
of having a certificate to let police enter your place of storage without
Im not sure however, that turning away an un-announced visit from legit PC/DCs sans warrant, would do you many favours, or speed up your next variation.
I think its sensible to ask for ID, and fair to wait until you have confirmation before letting someone in.
12gsnapcaps
Well-Known Member
That issue with the landowner was sorted and isn't related, I spoke to BASC who spoke to my FLM who essentially said 'just dont shoot there as much for a while' BUT if he carries on then we can look at harassment charges' I lost abit of permission but I still hold enough for my FAC to be valid, plus I have an open ticket.
Rake Aboot
Well-Known Member
No chance would I let them in.
Had the same at 10pm once. They were refused entry and sent packing. This was years ago. These days I wouldn’t let them in either, you’ve actually no idea who they were.
Registered with guntrader were you ?
Had the same at 10pm once. They were refused entry and sent packing. This was years ago. These days I wouldn’t let them in either, you’ve actually no idea who they were.
Registered with guntrader were you ?
TH4
Well-Known Member
The police have no extra rights of entry just because you have an FAC. As for not doing you any favours, with the backlogs they have and the sheer number of certificates they do with limited staff, do you really think they would take the time to single somebody out just because they asked some officers making an unannounced visit to come back at a more convenient time.
If a force is that busy, and has to come back a second time, do you think it will play well? The vast majority of FEOs Ive known in 27 years of having an FAC were great.
But a couple were, lets say, deliberately awkward.
Every FAC holder should do what they think is right in such circumstances. I can imagine this interest has been drawn to the dispute, which might be malicious on one side, or is giving cause for concern to police. If it were me, in these circumstances, Id be making things as easy as possible.
Everyone has a different opinion.
TH4
Well-Known Member
If they are deliberately awkward then speak to the manager and complain. We pay for a service and should expect a reasonable standard of professionalism from the FEO. I have had reason to ask an FEO to leave my house and return with somebody that knows what they are doing and it certainly did not make them treat me any differently.
Everyone to their own but there is a certain amount of paranoia from some people when it come to owning firearms and dealing with the police
Everyone to their own but there is a certain amount of paranoia from some people when it come to owning firearms and dealing with the police
The likely hood of them not being legit is minimal given the event outcome and being shown they were in possession of a copy of the FAC.
Three hoods looking to arm themselves, having gained full access to someone's gun cabinet would be likely to have overpowered said someone and take the guns at the time, rather than bother to note where the cabinet was and come back later...
Unnerving none the less...a call to the control room while they were still on the other side of your closed door may be a good idea if you were unsure.
We all like to think we could spot the wrong 'uns, but conmen exist so some of us are, and have been fooled.
Thank you for the warning @12gsnapcaps I for one will be a bit better prepared to consider the situation having followed the thread.
Alan
I too think you ought to contact with your FLD and ask them to confirm that this was genuine. It may be but your description sounds more than a little odd.
I’m with those who would deny entry. Generally, I don’t think it a good look for FAC holders to be overly rigid in their dealings with the local FLD but there are limits on that. There is simply no reason why the police cannot make an appointment if they wish to inspect, discuss etc unless the situation is an emergency. Acquiescing to such behaviour only reinforces a view (that some outside of the FAC holding world appear to hold) that shooting strips you of all normal rights against police intrusion; we are pariahs and should be expected to be treated as such!
From a security perspective it would also make sense for forces to have a clear policy that appointments will be made unless it is an emergency. That way, you know if someone arrives unannounced for an inspection that it is not legitimate and they should be denied entry.
If they are stuck for time, it makes even more sense to make an appointment. To send 3 officers when there is no guarantee you will be in seems a great way to waste a lot of time!
I’m with those who would deny entry. Generally, I don’t think it a good look for FAC holders to be overly rigid in their dealings with the local FLD but there are limits on that. There is simply no reason why the police cannot make an appointment if they wish to inspect, discuss etc unless the situation is an emergency. Acquiescing to such behaviour only reinforces a view (that some outside of the FAC holding world appear to hold) that shooting strips you of all normal rights against police intrusion; we are pariahs and should be expected to be treated as such!
From a security perspective it would also make sense for forces to have a clear policy that appointments will be made unless it is an emergency. That way, you know if someone arrives unannounced for an inspection that it is not legitimate and they should be denied entry.
If they are stuck for time, it makes even more sense to make an appointment. To send 3 officers when there is no guarantee you will be in seems a great way to waste a lot of time!
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
It is not out of the ordinary for the Police to 'knock on' unannounced. It is how the vast majority of 'premises interactions' take place.
An obvious example is "House-to-House" enquiries following a major incident. The Police knock, you answer, they ask to come in, you then decide if that is going to happen (warrant visits excluded).
99% of the time, once the householder is satisfied that they are who they say they are, then they are invited in, business is conducted (hopefully with tea and biscuits) and it is a positive experience for everyone. That is how it should be.
In the incident referred to by the OP, it is clear that the OP is subject to "inquires/investigation". Fine let the Police conduct their investigations.
The point is that the OP appears not to have satisfied themselves, that the three visitors were indeed who they say they were.
The fact that he has posted what he has, suggests to me that they were.
All Police Officers (and all the Public) will know about recent appalling and tragic events. It is incumbent on the Police to take the time to explain who they are, why they are at your door and to offer a means of verification to you.
Currently the MPS and Wiltshire are offering the public the opportunity to have a "video call" with the Control Room Supervisor (using the callers Police phone) who is in a position to confirm who is at your door.
Until and unless, you are satisfied that the callers are genuine - do not let them in.
Genuine Police Officers will understand this, and will do all they can to reassure you, and your family that the visit is genuine.
MAH
Well-Known Member
In principle I too would cooperate. Our police are there to protect society, and in the process of catching bad guys they sometimes create inconvenience for good guys. I'm OK with that.
However, having said that, I'd want to be certain that they were legitimate before inviting them in and opening a safe.
The security of my family and I may depend on it.
Given I've no idea what a police badge looks like, if they arrived without appointment, were in civvies and in an unmarked car, I'd want to verify their badge number with the police before inviting them in.
If they were legitimate they would understand that I am taking reasonable precautions. If they became stroppy, I'd assume they were not and 999.
FEED BACK.
please let us know the outcome of your discussion with the FLO.
That sounds a bit like the 'phone scammers' trick of telling you to put the phone down and call your bank to check if its genuine, but they don't put the phone down at their end and answer as the bank...the potential scammer is in control of the communication system...how do you know it is the Control Room on the other end?
Wouldn't it be more reassuring if the system enabled you to dial 101 and video/speak to the Control Room from your own phone?
Alan
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Stalker62
Well-Known Member
The option is a "video call" so you would see a uniformed officer and their room, but I take your point.
101 is indeed always available and in extremis 999 from your own phone.
12gsnapcaps
Well-Known Member
It appears my FEO is unwell so I called the general firearms licensing number, they confirmed it was a legitimate visit but couldn't tell me who they were or why they had come. I've asked for that information to be found out and shared with me.
I am in the fortunate position of a direct line number to the Control Room Supervisor so wouldn't have the potential wait on 101. But I was thinking if I am ever in the OP's position I would just ask the visitors for a collar number or two and confirm those with the Control Room from my own phone.
Presumably plain clothes officers still have collar numbers?
Alan
When did that become law, certainly not a condition on my certificates
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