My diary of my FAC application 😵‍💫

[Jh1986]

It's lovely doing vehicle tax or a vehicle owner change now. You go online, fill in a few bits and it cross references with other departments with regards to MOT status etc. All done in a flash with minimal human involvement.

FAC/SGC could easily cross reference the NHS with a flag style system for certain conditions. It could cross reference passport/driving license systems for ID checks (my banking app has me look at the camera and blink twice). Most photos, whether ID or of a cabinet installation, can be assessed by computer and flagged for human checks if needed.

There's all sorts of ways of doing it. Trouble is when your budget doesn't even allow you to do it the old fashioned way, how do you invest.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

There hasn't been a change in the system for over 15 years. There is a going tendering going at the minute for an upgrade. The majority of forces have payment via bacs. I will leave it there.

Therein lies the problem.
There has been a couple of failures to implement new systems.
I agree that many take BACS , but that’s not as easy as an online payment made in a similar manner to buying a product from a multitude of companies. Just the information added is more than your postal address and billing address etc.
In those fifteen years technology has moved on massively.
As a sole trader I have a tax login, DVLA and Passports etc have them too. So why is firearms licensing so far behind?
I will add that I have dealt with some very helpful and conscientious people over the years, who have been frustrated by the system they had to work with.
That said the management of the system overall has not kept up with the available resources, and the results are showing.
Another analogy would be how many site joiners use a hammer and nails to build studwork now? Most use a gas or battery powered nail gun or the use metal stud.

It's lovely doing vehicle tax or a vehicle owner change now. You go online, fill in a few bits and it cross references with other departments with regards to MOT status etc. All done in a flash with minimal human involvement.

FAC/SGC could easily cross reference the NHS with a flag style system for certain conditions. It could cross reference passport/driving license systems for ID checks (my banking app has me look at the camera and blink twice). Most photos, whether ID or of a cabinet installation, can be assessed by computer and flagged for human checks if needed.

There's all sorts of ways of doing it. Trouble is when your budget doesn't even allow you to do it the old fashioned way, how do you invest.

In reply to this, they have had money to invest (made sporting press if not national media) and it turned into a typical debacle.
See various other government procurement projects for other examples. The end result was a waste of good money and no charge from the old method.
My point is that systems are available almost off the shelf, that could do as you have stated.
I assume (I know not always the best idea) that the wage bill for staffing is a significant portion of the budget. If so any system that saves “man hours” is going to save on the overhead costs and therefore save the department money.
As part of one of the things I do. I have access to a system that handles the personal data and records qualifications gained amongst other things of said people. There’s multiple levels of access for different people within the system depending on their role within it. I have access to enough to do my job within the system. I see no reason why firearms licensing can’t do something similar.

 

[Jh1986]

Imagine this... A digital certificate. A web app on your phone (that can also be accessed via any other web browser) that shows your cert and calibres etc. You apply for a variation on the app, it's checked by computer and updates instantly. If it isn't auto approved, it goes to a human for a check and you get notified via the app when done.

That'd be lovely.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

Imagine this... A digital certificate. A web app on your phone (that can also be accessed via any other web browser) that shows your cert and calibres etc. You apply for a variation on the app, it's checked by computer and updates instantly. If it isn't auto approved, it goes to a human for a check and you get notified via the app when done.

That'd be lovely.

And probably quite feasible, without being a detrimental risk. Opposed to the current system of sending in a paper form to be logged in (sometimes with errors) and then mulled over till a decision is made.
Banded system with a maximum number of firearms allowed. Provide good reason to increase either band or numbers etc. You could even do private sales, not just via RFD. But I won’t hold my breath.

 

[Steve2_1]

Happy new year one and all. Very pleased to give my January update ..... Today, 15 months after I initially applied for my grant, I had the FEO home visit and interview. And it all went very well, they were happy with the gun safe and everything else, and foresee no issues.

Still needs the final processing and the nod from head office which may take a few weeks, but all being well, should have my license soon ..... I hope! We'll see

 

[Jh1986]

Happy new year one and all. Very pleased to give my January update ..... Today, 15 months after I initially applied for my grant, I had the FEO home visit and interview. And it all went very well, they were happy with the gun safe and everything else, and foresee no issues.

Still needs the final processing and the nod from head office which may take a few weeks, but all being well, should have my license soon ..... I hope! We'll see

I'd pop your renewal in now if I were you

 

[BenBhoy]

Happy new year one and all. Very pleased to give my January update ..... Today, 15 months after I initially applied for my grant, I had the FEO home visit and interview. And it all went very well, they were happy with the gun safe and everything else, and foresee no issues.

Still needs the final processing and the nod from head office which may take a few weeks, but all being well, should have my license soon ..... I hope! We'll see

Fingers crossed . First bit of advice I'd give , soon as ticket comes through letterbox read it very carefully & make sure that exactly what you asked for/are expecting is actually the same as what it says on the blue paper in your hand!

 

[Steve2_1]

Fingers crossed . First bit of advice I'd give , soon as ticket comes through letterbox read it very carefully & make sure that exactly what you asked for/are expecting is actually the same as what it says on the blue paper in your hand!

Will do for sure, I've heard so many say they have seen errors. That would do me in after waiting this long.

 

[HistoricBore]

... and also make sure that you sign it!

HB

 

[BenBhoy]

Will do for sure, I've heard so many say they have seen errors. That would do me in after waiting this long.

I waited ages for a variation, came back & they'd put wrong calibre!!

 

[Frithy]

After putting my application in August 2021 i got my FEO home visit on Tuesday, had to do some shotgun safety training as I applied for coterminous so went and did that on the same day at the local clay ground. I was under the impression everything was in place now and it was just a case of being processed. Unsure how long the final processing will take, i'm under Northumbria Police.

 

[fieldwalker]

Held my FAC for a number of years now. Regarding my grant I was extremely fortunate. I sent the application off on the Saturday morning and had a call 2 days later on the monday asking to come for a visit by FEO on the Wednesday! I had to delay it until the following Wednesday as I had nothing In place regarding storage. I was not popular with other club members for a while as some had been waiting a year already That was west Mercia. Waiting time now here is around 8 months and a variation around 6-8 weeks

 

[PMA]

Nearly there !!
Then just the big spend !!!

Pete

 

[LarryLightFoot]

Still waiting, was told by my FEO beginning of last week it’s still in his superiors tray waiting to be signed off and hopefully be done this month , fingers crossed it lands before the end of the month .

 

[Klenchblaize]

Fingers crossed . First bit of advice I'd give , soon as ticket comes through letterbox read it very carefully & make sure that exactly what you asked for/are expecting is actually the same as what it says on the blue paper in your hand!

This ^

It actually mirrors the advice my FEO gave as he placed the brandy glass coffee mug on the reloading bench and stepped over the 12” steel strong room door threshold.

It was clear there was every chance of our ‘agreement’ in wording and requirements being less than perfectly documented by the typing pool diligent back room support team and that’s exactly what happened. The good news is was rectified in less than a week but possibly only because I basically re-worded everything and sent it to all concerned including the Head of Kent PFL.

Nothing but praise for what these people have to contend with given such limited resourcing.

K

 

[Steve2_1]

O

Nearly there !!
Then just the big spend !!!

Pete

Oh it's done, deposit already placed on a couple of boom sticks with the RFD happy to wait a couple of weeks or so until I get the FAC

 

[GMan14]

South Yorkshire currently processing April 2022 applications. They seem to be slowly closing the gap

Had my home visit today from South Yorkshire. FEO was a decent chap, ex-firearms and very knowledgable. Happy in principal with everything I’ve applied for, however I applied for a 6.5 CM & .308 for Deer & AOLQ + range. I’ve been requested to provide the address of the ground I’ve shot on, the name & FAC number of the guide & calibre used. Naturally this seems to have ruffled a few feathers but if I don’t obtain this level of detail, it sounds like I can’t demonstrate good reason for those calibres.

On a side note, I’m a member of a mini range club where I’ve shot .308 many times, but I’m told they aren’t permitted to use factory ammo and use a (excuse the terminology) lower energy reloads. Hence I can’t get signed off on my historic records even for range use.

I have support of the FEO for my application and just need to provide the information requested for the deer rifles. Have my DSC 1, syndicate ground and various stalks under my belt

Has anyone come across this before?

 

[badmolassesaccident]

^ You need to provide a good reason for each rifle AND for each permitted use. You want to be able to shoot over land at lawful quarry, so you must nominate some land. It can be a particular parcel of land where you have permission to shoot, or it could be evidence of a paid stalk. If you have a syndicate, that is enough.

Some ranges have low muzzle energy limits. That’s the reason for the down-powered 308 ammo.

 

[badmolassesaccident]

It’s not clear if you are a member or a target shooting club. You will need to be a member of a club where you can shoot the 308 and 6.5. A mini rifle club (mini rifle is only 22 rimfire, so it must be more than this) likely won’t be suitable even if they allow use of downloaded centerfire ammunition.

 

[Sonicdmb73]

Had my home visit today from South Yorkshire. FEO was a decent chap, ex-firearms and very knowledgable. Happy in principal with everything I’ve applied for, however I applied for a 6.5 CM & .308 for Deer & AOLQ + range. I’ve been requested to provide the address of the ground I’ve shot on, the name & FAC number of the guide & calibre used. Naturally this seems to have ruffled a few feathers but if I don’t obtain this level of detail, it sounds like I can’t demonstrate good reason for those calibres.

On a side note, I’m a member of a mini range club where I’ve shot .308 many times, but I’m told they aren’t permitted to use factory ammo and use a (excuse the terminology) lower energy reloads. Hence I can’t get signed off on my historic records even for range use.

I have support of the FEO for my application and just need to provide the information requested for the deer rifles. Have my DSC 1, syndicate ground and various stalks under my belt

Has anyone come across this before?

If you haven’t already read it can I suggest you have a look at the Home Office Guidelines (firearms) on the .gov website. You will find the section on “Good Reason” within the document. It is well worth refreshing your memory even if you have previously read it. It explains the various acceptable forms of good reason and I find it helps when querying your FEO to be able to reference the HOG at times. Certainly strengthened my argument on more than one occasion.
So you need land, your own, someone else’s with their permission or proof of bookings (usually plural) for paid stalking. That gets you live quarry and zeroing at ranges. For more formal target shooting you need an appropriate range.
When we had pistols I was a member of a small bore club, affiliated to a large bore club. This was enough at first, however later they insisted we were a member of a full bore club. So nothing is black and white but an interpretation of HOG and “policy” with your force. Unfortunately you have no choice but to provide justification for each rifle (I have just had to for a variation) because they are all judged individually on merit.