My diary of my FAC application 😵‍💫

[ChesterP]

So are you saying they need longer than 22months to arrange a F2F renewal interview? So they can ask you if you ever had a relevant medical condition prior to the ten years your GP report covered? Have they never heard of a telephone in County Durham?

No, that is not what I'm saying at all, as I specifically have not mentioned any stated waiting times. I didn't mention waiting period. This wasn't in regards to Durham either which I have no knowledge of. Each authority will have their own staffing resource issues currently which is clearly a major factor driving waiting times which is just the reality we're in sadly.

 

[Apthorpe]

"Staffing issues" is the excuse. Bad management is the reason. That is the reality.
Forces wouldn't have staffing issues if it wasn't for the fact that they have allowed enormous backlogs to develop as a consequence of bad management decisions. The reality is that the police have cumulatively demanded more and more unnecessary bureaucracy and pointless controls, while at the same time failing to make sensible provision for doing the basics properly. It's a complete pigs' breakfast for no other reason than this country's completely deranged culture of worshipping dysfunctional public service providers, instead of making them accountable and insisting on a minimal level of competence.
There is no valid reason for licensing to take more than 6 weeks.

 

[ChesterP]

I don't agree entirely. Having had a long chat with my own FEO yesterday, it's clear that it's not the fault of the FEO's most of whom seem to be doing everything they reasonably can. Yes, poor management at the top means either that insufficient resources are allocated for staffing or they're just taking a decision in some forces not to allocate further budget. This puts a huge strain on the numbers of staff engaged in actually doing the work. Also, the H/O keep pushing the goalposts back as knee jerk reactions to things like Plymouth and adding further "guidance" to police chiefs what they will or will not accept, some of which isn't actually stipulated in Law. As we all probably are aware, the Law doesn't always work in the favour of the public but can be bent and twisted to political ends, forcing costly High Court decisions for clarifying key aspects which lets face it, without backing, few of us can afford to do. There's also a fine line between the police and FEO teams. The latter do what they're told, and it's down to the enforcing authority with the buck stopping with the Chief Constables for making decisions and shaping how their licensing departments operate. It's not entirely fair blaming licensing teams themselves (at least in a lot of cases). Whether we like to agree with it or not, the moving posts and under funding of departments IS what is driving lengthy waiting times, and not some conspiracy to rid us of our FACs, although I'm sure many CC's would like to see civilians stripped of all firearms.

 

[Steve2_1]

I have a mate who applied to the MET in early August 2021 and was granted in mid Jan 2022. That was immediately after they started accepting applications again after stopping grants during covid, so I'd hope it was a bit quicker now.

Seems a 5 month turn round is good these days, still way too long mind. Certainly no more than 3 months, assuming the relevant departments have the correct resources, etc

 

[Pine Marten]

I just had two letters from the Met to tell me they couldn't process my renewals before the certificates expired. So they were extending their validity by 8 weeks. Which is at least an honest, transparent and pragmatic way to deal with the problem. I also suspect that Operation London Bridge is Falling Down scuppered any prospect of the backlog of admin being dealt with.

 

[sussexyeoman]

Anyone have any recent experience with the MET?
I submitted FAC application in May so guessing I'll have a long wait...

Hey Jack, I submitted application in November 2021. I had FEO visit a few weeks back and am still waiting for final signoff. FEO has advised me to chase them in 4-weeks if still heard nothing. From what I hear they are getting faster, but still have a huge backlog and are understandably prioritising renewals

 

[foxhunter]

County Durham

22 months into a grant

Application recieved November 2020
Interview, land cleared, mentor spoken to in August 2021.......been on the decision makers desk since

Numerous emails and the same, covid staffing issues are the cause

I know 3 people who have complained to there local MP and there SGC came a week or so later, but I have been told by the firearms department that no license's have been expedited by complaining

It will be 2 years in November and im desperate need of my Fac to effectively control vermin on my land, currently using a sub12 airgun which is painfully restricting and so many missed opportunities if I had my FAC.

I have a freind who is a solicitor and he has offered to write me a letter

Will see what happens in the next week or so and then I think I will have to bring up my concerns with being told that no license's have been speeded up by complaints when they clearly have when people like myself have been patiently waiting and fully understanding in the restraints that the licencing department have been working under.

 

[foxhunter]

I still havent got my renewal from Durham either , nearly 10 months now for a straightforward renewal. Its awaiting review apparently, don't know what's to review

 

[Lone wolf]

If the farmer's livelihood is genuinely affected by your temporary inability to carry out pest control then you've got a perfectly legitimate reason to put pressure on your firearms dept to get a move on, backed up by some pressure from the landowner too. In my experience, that would take precedence over a purely recreational application.

Agreed, we have talked about constructing a letter from them to say, so will send this down the line and see what comes back

After another two months if still no FAC i would send the chief constable and crime commissioner a birthday card / anniversary card as an invite to a party to celebrate their incompetence in the job.

with out wanting to rustle feathers more than I need to that's a good idea and if I was already a license holder I may have the courage to do that but as I'm just putting in for a grant I want to be reasonable, come November when I got 2yrs I'm going to send the letter myself and a freind are starting to work on

But hopefully it wont come to that and it will come this weekend and I can absolutely melt my credit cards

 

[Lone wolf]

I still havent got my renewal from Durham either , nearly 10 months now for a straightforward renewal. Its awaiting review apparently, don't know what's to review

I still havent got my renewal from Durham either , nearly 10 months now for a straightforward renewal. Its awaiting review apparently, don't know what's to review

That's rubbish mate, I thought they had the renewals under control now and 8-10 months was the norm, maybe your not to far off now

 

[foxhunter]

That's rubbish mate, I thought they had the renewals under control now and 8-10 months was the norm, maybe your not to far off now

Hope so its ridiculous, emailed them again today for an update.

 

[Foxyboy43]

I just had two letters from the Met to tell me they couldn't process my renewals before the certificates expired. So they were extending their validity by 8 weeks. Which is at least an honest, transparent and pragmatic way to deal with the problem. I also suspect that Operation London Bridge is Falling Down scuppered any prospect of the backlog of admin being dealt with.

Hmmm. It is also demonstrates that their system is broken and a highly inefficient way to progress process defer their part in your renewal which in both extensions and any following (as if), only adds to the already exorbitant cost of firearms licensing. I am oit of the efficiency game more than 15 years now but my last recollection is that even a simple letter then cost £25 so even at these old rates your two avoidable extensions account for more than half of your renewal fee!
IMHO the sooner ACPO initiates a root and branch of the licensing process across the UK and makes significant improvements to their many inefficient actions the better for all. I have said it before - the sooner the system is centralised and integrated with a similarly-tasked and efficient agency the better. With the relatively small numbers involved - the Passport Agency (which processes 5m passports p.a.) could take this on without breaking stride (see the attached FAC details below showing the relatively low FAC “processes” of c.100,000 p.a.) they also have 7 regional offices and an HQ); add to this a 10 year FAC and a bit of a wild card - perhaps even the requirement for the applicant to produce a CRO letter with their application - class discuss……

In the year ending 31 March 2020, there were:
• 7,962 new applications for firearm certificates, of which only 3% (217) were refused; a slightly higher proportion than the previous year and the highest proportion since the record began.
• 18,857 new applications for shotgun
certificates, of which only 3% (619) were
refused; a slightly higher proportion than the previous year and the highest proportion since the record began.
• 20,786 firearm certificate renewal applications, of which almost all (20,736), were granted and just 0.2% (50) were refused.
• 52,635 shotgun certificate renewal applications, of which almost all (52,506), were granted and just 0.2% (129) were refused.

 

[Robs]

The constabularies are simply under resourced. Until more are FEOs are recruited nothing will change. Spoke recently with my local constabulary and they understand that it is unacceptable but without more people the situation will not improve. Our local FEO's work hard but without more of them things will not improve.

 

[Lone wolf]

Hope so its ridiculous, emailed them again today for an update.

Let me know what they say mate

I and another shooter I talk with think there just sending a standard pre written response out to all enquires on updates

 

[bogtrotter]

Same here , mid 50s with all my hair ...often get called Son or young un

All the fresh air and exercise ....long may it continue

I was referred to as son the other day and I'm in my 70s.
I have no idea how she managed to get so far off the beaten track without her guide dog or white stick.

 

[GMan14]

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

I’m also South Yorkshire and have been waiting 6 months so far for a grant. When I called they said currently 9 months for grants

 

[foxhunter]

Let me know what they say mate

I and another shooter I talk with think there just sending a standard pre written response out to all enquires on updates

Still awaiting review and sign off

 

[Lone wolf]

Still awaiting review and sign off

Hopefully not much longer

 

[Greenknight88]

I’m also South Yorkshire and have been waiting 6 months so far for a grant. When I called they said currently 9 months for grants

Don't know what to say must have just got lucky..

 

[GMan14]

Don't know what to say must have just got lucky..

I emailed some approved land details this afternoon & asked for an update. Hopefully I’ll be drawn out of the hat soon!