BASC lodges IOPC complaint over Merseyside Police comments

[Conor O'Gorman]

BASC has lodged an official complaint with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) following comments made by Merseyside Police around legally-held firearms.

A newspaper carried quotes that the force had: “work ongoing to remove and reduce the amount of lawfully-owned firearms across Merseyside so that they don’t fall into the wrong hands”, and that “the force is prevention driven so we are looking at removing that threat before it emanates”.

BASC stated in its complaint that the comments were both intimidatory and discriminatory towards certificate holders.

BASC lodges police complaint - BASC

BASC has lodged an official complaint with the IOPC following comments made by Merseyside Police around legally-held firearms.

basc.org.uk

 

[Bowland blades]

Absolutely the correct thing to do ! firearms licencing is not a big factor in Merseyside use of firearms in crime - Drugs , gangs , territory is ! Just take a peek at the Handguns being used the rifles etc, figure how prominent ? !
Even if sporting guns where used only the keepers security should be looked at and upgraded

 

[finnbear270]

Finally we may be seeing a few teeth appearing?

 

[Pete1774]

BASC has lodged an official complaint with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) following comments made by Merseyside Police around legally-held firearms.

A newspaper carried quotes that the force had: “work ongoing to remove and reduce the amount of lawfully-owned firearms across Merseyside so that they don’t fall into the wrong hands”, and that “the force is prevention driven so we are looking at removing that threat before it emanates”.

BASC stated in its complaint that the comments were both intimidatory and discriminatory towards certificate holders.

https://basc.org.uk/basc-lodges-police-complaint/[/URL

I well remember back in the late 1970s getting a letter from the shiny new Chief Constable of Bedfordshire in a similar vain. It said words to the effect of, "I see no need for anyone to own more that two pistols and two rifles" He further suggested that owners should hand in any "excess" firearms at the local police station! I believe a few titled gentlemen in the county had a quiet word and the matter was dropped.
Who says the House of Lords is pointless?

 

[MAH]

the force is prevention driven so we are looking at removing that threat before it emanates”.

Blimey.. if that quote is accurate, then that mindset is a concern in a much wider context. e.g.
1. Arrest people driving TO the pub.
2. Impound cars that will exceed 70mph

I recall the Clint Eastwood movie, when the corrupt chief says "guilty until proven innocent....."

It brings the debate on "Reloading Components" legislation into sharp focus. There is loads (oops) of opportunity to revoke a licence.

I will watch this with interest.
M.

 

[NullMac]

A good court case will sort him out.

 

[cjm1066]

70mph is the speed limit, can't he confiscate all cars capable of exceeding the speed limit?

Well done BASC.

 

[12gsnapcaps]

Well done BASC! Merseyside Police's statements are an affront to all of the UK's <1,000,000 licence holders - all decent sports men and women.

 

[finnbear270]

A good court case will sort him out.

Who would step forward & action / pay????

 

[Dalua]

Merseyside Police's statements are an affront to all of the UK's <1,000,000 licence holders - all decent sports men and women.

Yes - and on this occasion, BASC's are not.
Good news indeed.

 

[mealiejimmy]

A good court case will sort him out.

What sort of court case would that be?
This is just dumb PR from the cops that makes good reading for those that know nothing about firearms
BASC are quite right to challenge them about it

Cheers

Bruce

 

[Reloader708]

Just out of interest, was keir starmer similarly straightened up when he made the ridiculous comment about legally owned firearms after the shootings earlier this year?

Starmer calls for shotgun ownership rethink following Euston shooting

Labour leader suggests firmer laws over who can own a shotgun after drive-by shooting in his constituency

www.theguardian.com

 

[Rake Aboot]

Both the man in question and Starmer are a pair of bellends.

Remove the threat should have been shut all routes to the UK from Eastern Europe.

 

[stubear]

Well done BASC for calling this out - we need to be red hot on this sort of thing, it’s exactly that sort of comment that puts the wrong idea in the heads of the non-shooting community. Never mind the heavy handed tactics and threats…

Can we/should we raise complaints to the PCC for the area? I recall something similar was done for another force which had a discriminatory policy for its own staff against those who hunt and we were all able to send an email in to the PCC via a web form.

 

[One on top of two]

I totally agree but these “ Bell-ends “ are going to win ,who knows when but that day is getting evermore closer .

It’s so sad what’s happening to our sport .

 

[Ade8mm]

A

"Safe and effective" approach


Ade

 

[Rake Aboot]

It’s working it’s way down through the force though.
My renewal this month has been a ridiculous roundabout of calls about uttter drivel. They seem to be making legal ownership as awkward as possible

 

[Len the dog]

Whilst I applaud and support BASC’s stance, I can’t help thinking that the response from Merseyside Police will be, “meh”.
We all know that the police long term objective is to have private ownership of firearms banned, so our feelings being hurt by such PR soundbites isn’t really going to give them sleepless nights.

 

[Benelli m2]

Get the home secretary on it

 

[Bowland blades]

Who would step forward & action / pay????

Police never go into court to defend dodgy ground as 1. it sets a president when they fall flat on their backside at round one .
If they do i suggest a tenner from every BASC member would raise interest from some serious legal minds over what the cops could manage.
I support sensible firearms control and vetting but reducing licences among the most law abiding section of our UK Citizens on the basis of criminals ( who mainly prefer handguns not rifles and shotgun ) to control territory to sell illegal substances shipped from the other side of the globe illegally ? Dumb as soup ! I should seriously question if he has the Skills for the position held