Norfolk Deer Search
Well-Known Member
20 years in and knowing what i know now I certainly wouldnât have bothered and I certainly wouldnât go through hassle of it again.
My diary of my FAC application đ”âđ«
- Thread starter Steve2_1
- Start date
sussexyeoman
Active Member
As someone facing a similar delay now approaching a year, I'm always concerned about rocking the boat or making life difficult for the licensing team as they will ultimately be the ones giving the yay or nay to my application. Probably a bit irrational, but I don't want to give them any reason to deny me
Foxyboy43
Well-Known Member
This is precisely the problem I have encountered soooo many times - why accept this awful service from one public body when you would not think of accepting it from any others?
sussexyeoman
Active Member
Totally agree with you both, but I can't help feeling that due to the lack of transparency around decisions and the difficulties (and expense) of challenging anything in court there are not many equivalent situations. We are made to feel we must be grateful despite paying for the privilege vs accessing any other public serviceThis is precisely the problem I have encountered soooo many times - why accept this awful service from one public body when you would not think of accepting it from any others?
Iâve just done a variation and spoke in some length with the FEO responsible for dealing with it
There were some technical issues around ID ing Blaser bits and pieces - hence the conversation
He told me that he had to account for, and justify, every 15 minutes of his working day
There is always another side to all situationsâŠ.
There were some technical issues around ID ing Blaser bits and pieces - hence the conversation
He told me that he had to account for, and justify, every 15 minutes of his working day
There is always another side to all situationsâŠ.
badmolassesaccident
Well-Known Member
You have been issued a Section 7 certificate.
Did you send your medical with the renewal?
Have the police contacted your referees?
This sounds like it is held up on information/checking. As it is work for the police to issue a S7, they may as well just put that effort into a renewal if there is nothing else they are waiting on.
As you have a Section 7, you are in lawful possession. But it means the police can now take even more time as they donât need to seize your guns, which would make the police look bad.
Yes, but issuing section 7 s because they can't get a renewal done in time makes them look bad when the get inspected by HMIC and Chief Constables don't like getting bad marks when HMIC comes calling
Cheers
Bruce
Cheers
Bruce
foxhunter
Well-Known Member
Yes my medical report was sent with my renewal application but I dont think they have contacted referees yet.
Durham police have a huge staff shortage apparently but I dont understand why they dont just sort my application as it's a straightforward renewal with no changes and I've had it 35 years.
......And the latest update, there 'aint one. Nothing has happened. But what will throw a spanner in the works is i'm moving soon, so i contacted Dorset Police to tell them im moving in October, here will be my new address. They said contact us when you move, and my application is in the queue. I reckon i've snookered myself 
getting frustrating now. 10 months in. If i get it this year, i'll be surprised.
getting frustrating now. 10 months in. If i get it this year, i'll be surprised.
Dunwaters
Well-Known Member
Its on issues like this that your national bodies, all of them need, to be more pro-active.
It might be an idea to query the whole medical certification process, it seems to be causing far more difficulty than is justified by either the expense, difficulty or time.
Iâve no idea what the certs are supposed to prevent, but maybe you should ask for the stats on whatever it is pre and post medical certificate requirements and see are they performing as intended?
It might be an idea to query the whole medical certification process, it seems to be causing far more difficulty than is justified by either the expense, difficulty or time.
Iâve no idea what the certs are supposed to prevent, but maybe you should ask for the stats on whatever it is pre and post medical certificate requirements and see are they performing as intended?
Foxyboy43
Well-Known Member
This is a good idea - maybe a Freedom of Information request seeking:-
1 the estimated delays in overall processing FACs caused by delays incurred by applicants now having to obtain med certs ( a before and after mandatory intro comparison would suffice);
2 the associated costs of such delays to the public purse; and
3 in light of 1 & 2 when a full appraisal of benefits/disbenefits will be undertaken and what and when remedial action will follow?
Sadly I cannot do this as we donât have this idiotic system in NI - yet! In any case our licensing system is already in meltdown!
Greenknight88
Active Member
This may be annoying to some of you but...
Just done my first application with South Yorkshire police, 11 weeks in total from application to a rifle in the cabinet..
And that's cleared for 4x section 1's
Just done my first application with South Yorkshire police, 11 weeks in total from application to a rifle in the cabinet..
And that's cleared for 4x section 1's
......And the latest update, there 'aint one. Nothing has happened. But what will throw a spanner in the works is i'm moving soon, so i contacted Dorset Police to tell them im moving in October, here will be my new address. They said contact us when you move, and my application is in the queue. I reckon i've snookered myself
I understand not wanting to complain, but the way to do so is via your crime commissioner, make a formal complaint against the Chief Constable. As lack of resource will be down to budgets and it the crime commissioner who controls budgets allocated to the Chief Constable.
That way you are not complaining directly to the firearms manager/team.
edit to add, however it may be part of the wider agenda to justify full cost recovery of issuing certificates, ie we need more money for more resources.
That's not annoying at all its inspiring to see that some forces can and do get things done efficiently and in good time.
I'm 21 months into a grant with Durham and I would be surprised if I hear anything back this year!
you have more patience than I and totally unacceptable, I would be giving consideration to making that formal complaint and copying my MP in on it, also arrange a meeting with your MP.
21 months is incompetence.
I would agree here. Over the years I have written to firearms to complain and it hasnât even been acknowledged but when I went through the crime commissioner it was dealt with straight away( well they have 10 days to respond before its escalated, and both times have used the full 10 days) but bang on the 10th day I got a call and they were desperate to get the complaint off of their books. I had my cert back within the day and had a call to check and remind me to cancel the complaint. Turns out they had somehow removed the mod on one of my Cal so had to go back and was back again return of post.
I was complaining not to force a decision but the pure fact it had taken nearly a year and no one would respond to emails or return phone calls. Iâm currently waiting for my renewal that is due 30th of this month Aug and I put it in 14weeks early so watch this space but I fear I will be getting a temp
I put in for fac grant back start June 21 with d and c. Was told didn't need medical report then just before Xmas was told I do managed get my medical in just before Xmas. Lots calls and emails and when I have spoken to the firearms department they have always been very polite but can't Really help much. Just waiting game was told. now I need this grant for my occupation (farmer) and was told 2 months ago this will be made a priority. Called up head office week ago. They seemed very shocked I had not had my home visit. And informed they will email north devon to get this sorted. And still had no response from them at all. Very disappointing. And a complete load lies on the website regards the time scales they state. And new staff have been appointed back in May but they all went to other parts the South West. No new work force for North devon.
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