BASC welcomes new training programme for firearms enquiry officers

[Conor O'Gorman]

A new training programme for firearms enquiry officers which BASC helped to develop was launched at a meeting of the College of Policing this week.

As a key stakeholder, BASC was invited to attend the launch, alongside representatives from 41 of the UK’s police forces’ firearms licensing departments and other shooting organisations.

BASC played a significant role in developing the new course, working closely with the British Shooting Sports Council (BSSC), with the aim of ensuring professional competence amongst firearms enquiry officers (FEOs) and to achieve consistent good practice across the forces.

In helping to develop the programme, BASC contributed to the structure of a number of the training outputs. The launch event also offered the opportunity for BASC’s head of firearms, Martin Parker, to meet many of the heads of licensing departments and discuss current issues.

Mr Parker said: “BASC very much welcomes the introduction of the course and we’ve played a significant role in developing aspects of the training programme, including familiarisation with the different shooting disciplines, handling and making safe commonly encountered firearms and the opportunity to shoot both shotguns and rifles.

“We look forward to continuing to assist with the development of the course and we remain committed to the delivery of the subsequent training. The ultimate goal would be to ensure the course becomes the standard across all police forces and becomes fully accredited.”

BASC welcomes new training programme for firearms enquiry officers

A new training programme for Firearms Enquiry Officers which BASC helped to develop was launched at the College of Policing this week.

basc.org.uk

 

[Tallguy]

So how do we get to look at the course material and training programme?

 

[cjm1066]

Let's hope it improves consistency.

One for the managers might be useful?

 

[palmer_mike]

So how do we get to look at the course material and training programme?

Get a job as an FEO?

 

[nic531]

and what are they doing to stop the different forces saying "its only guidelines' so we do what we want

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

So how do we get to look at the course material and training programme?

Firearms licensing | College of Policing

www.college.police.uk

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

and what are they doing to stop the different forces saying "its only guidelines' so we do what we want

The outcome of last year's firearms licensing consultation will be relevant. Also, 19 PCCs responded to BASC's PCC campaign saying they would encourage the setting up of an Independent Advisory Group in their force area - as recommended in the College of Policing’s Associated Professional Practice. BASC continues to meet with PCCs to encourage improvements and consistency of approach. Can you help by emailing your PCC asking for a meeting?

 

[timbrayford]

Conor, do you anticipate any future moves to centralised firearms licensing? If we are to be clobbered with full cost recovery it seems ridiculously expensive to indulge individual police forces with their own FLDs when one dedicated and properly funded professional office, supported by regional FEOs could do the job just as well.

 

[8x57]

The outcome of last year's firearms licensing consultation will be relevant. Also, 19 PCCs responded to BASC's PCC campaign saying they would encourage the setting up of an Independent Advisory Group in their force area - as recommended in the College of Policing’s Associated Professional Practice. BASC continues to meet with PCCs to encourage improvements and consistency of approach. Can you help by emailing your PCC asking for a meeting?

Conor can you please name which 19 force PCCs that would encourage the setting up of independent advisory groups.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Conor, do you anticipate any future moves to centralised firearms licensing? If we are to be clobbered with full cost recovery it seems ridiculously expensive to indulge individual police forces with their own FLDs when one dedicated and properly funded professional office, supported by regional FEOs could do the job just as well.

In its response to a Home Office inquiry last year BASC recommended the setting up an independent regulatory body to oversee the firearms licensing function carried out by each police force in England and Wales to ensure that this function is being consistently and effectively carried out – not to replace the firearms licensing function of the police but rather having oversight of that function and holding police forces to account where there are failings.

Key points from that submission:

• Provide adequate fiscal and human resources for its Firearms Licensing Units (FLUs).
• Employ properly trained, expert staff within those units.
• Abolish non-standard administrative practices which fall outside the Home Office Statutory Guidance, 2021.
• Achieve consistency of administrative practice which conforms to the Home Office document; “Firearms Licensing: Statutory Guidance for Chief Officers of Police.” (2021
• Adopt a risk-assessed and managed licensing regime as opposed to a risk-averse one.
• FLUs should be subject to Service Level Agreements.
• Incorporate proper mechanisms for stakeholder involvement and feedback.
• FLUs must be answerable to a central policy unit (akin to the Forensic Science Regulator). This unit must have statutory powers to compel compliance.
• Firearms Licensing Units must be inspected as part of a force’s PEEL inspection.
• Regional co-operation and eventual amalgamation between FLUs should be strongly promoted.

Click link below to read the full submission

https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/113007/html/

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Conor can you please name which 19 force PCCs that would encourage the setting up of independent advisory groups.

I don't have the list to hand so it will be sometime next week.

 

[timbrayford]

In its response to a Home Office inquiry last year BASC recommended the setting up an independent regulatory body to oversee the firearms licensing function carried out by each police force in England and Wales to ensure that this function is being consistently and effectively carried out – not to replace the firearms licensing function of the police but rather having oversight of that function and holding police forces to account where there are failings.

Key points from that submission:

• Provide adequate fiscal and human resources for its Firearms Licensing Units (FLUs).
• Employ properly trained, expert staff within those units.
• Abolish non-standard administrative practices which fall outside the Home Office Statutory Guidance, 2021.
• Achieve consistency of administrative practice which conforms to the Home Office document; “Firearms Licensing: Statutory Guidance for Chief Officers of Police.” (2021
• Adopt a risk-assessed and managed licensing regime as opposed to a risk-averse one.
• FLUs should be subject to Service Level Agreements.
• Incorporate proper mechanisms for stakeholder involvement and feedback.
• FLUs must be answerable to a central policy unit (akin to the Forensic Science Regulator). This unit must have statutory powers to compel compliance.
• Firearms Licensing Units must be inspected as part of a force’s PEEL inspection.
• Regional co-operation and eventual amalgamation between FLUs should be strongly promoted.

Click link below to read the full submission

https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/113007/html/

Thanks Conor but this doesn't address the duplication of effort across multiple FLDs, if the majority are not to be priced out of shooting sports we need to move forward from an antiquated firearms administration system dating from 1920.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Thanks Conor but this doesn't address the duplication of effort across multiple FLDs, if the majority are not to be priced out of shooting sports we need to move forward from an antiquated firearms administration system dating from 1920.

We await the outcome of last year's firearms licensing consultation. And the Home Office firearms fees review to resume.

 

[tony213]

Can anyone give some advice please. A neighbour has made some allegations against me (been ongoing for past three years) and as a licensed holder these have severe implications.
I can quite understand the police view of removing firearms pending investigation and have no issues but do feel its very one sided approach when numerous reports have been made over harassment , threats to harm but nothing has been done to curtail their actions and suddenly makes a report and held responsible. Does anyone have or had similar cases or what action they took to redress ? Thanking you appreciated.

 

[8x57]

Can anyone give some advice please. A neighbour has made some allegations against me (been ongoing for past three years) and as a licensed holder these have severe implications.
I can quite understand the police view of removing firearms pending investigation and have no issues but do feel its very one sided approach when numerous reports have been made over harassment , threats to harm but nothing has been done to curtail their actions and suddenly makes a report and held responsible. Does anyone have or had similar cases or what action they took to redress ? Thanking you appreciated.

Tony I think you've accidently posted in the wrong place, you should have started a new thread.

 

[Jh1986]

and what are they doing to stop the different forces saying "its only guidelines' so we do what we want

I think this is one of the biggest things that isn't being tackled.

Surely it follows that the departmental funding will be strained, if you are creating extra work for yourself with land checks, extra conditions, safe shooter assesments, etc.

 

[Martiniblack577]

A new training programme for firearms enquiry officers which BASC helped to develop was launched at a meeting of the College of Policing this week.

As a key stakeholder, BASC was invited to attend the launch, alongside representatives from 41 of the UK’s police forces’ firearms licensing departments and other shooting organisations.

BASC played a significant role in developing the new course, working closely with the British Shooting Sports Council (BSSC), with the aim of ensuring professional competence amongst firearms enquiry officers (FEOs) and to achieve consistent good practice across the forces.

In helping to develop the programme, BASC contributed to the structure of a number of the training outputs. The launch event also offered the opportunity for BASC’s head of firearms, Martin Parker, to meet many of the heads of licensing departments and discuss current issues.

Mr Parker said: “BASC very much welcomes the introduction of the course and we’ve played a significant role in developing aspects of the training programme, including familiarisation with the different shooting disciplines, handling and making safe commonly encountered firearms and the opportunity to shoot both shotguns and rifles.

“We look forward to continuing to assist with the development of the course and we remain committed to the delivery of the subsequent training. The ultimate goal would be to ensure the course becomes the standard across all police forces and becomes fully accredited.”

BASC welcomes new training programme for firearms enquiry officers

A new training programme for Firearms Enquiry Officers which BASC helped to develop was launched at the College of Policing this week.

basc.org.uk

Can you confirm which other shooting organisations helped develop and lead this course which I’m disappointed you haven’t mentioned?

Thank you.

 

[T.eddie]

Can you confirm which other shooting organisations helped develop and lead this course which I’m disappointed you haven’t mentioned?

Thank you.

The bssc which they mentioned seems to be made up of a number of orgs as they stated, I've just googled it and found the following

The council’s members

The Association of Professional Shooting Instructors The British Association for Shooting & Conservation Ltd The Clay Pigeon Shooting Association The Gun Trade Association The Nationa…

www.bssc.org.uk

 

[Mike L]

Can you confirm which other shooting organisations helped develop and lead this course which I’m disappointed you haven’t mentioned?

Thank you.

I am sure the other organisations that regularly post updates on SD will be along in a minute……….. oh wait.

 

[Martiniblack577]

I am sure the other organisations that regularly post updates on SD will be along in a minute……….. oh

The bssc which they mentioned seems to be made up of a number of orgs as they stated, I've just googled it and found the following

The council’s members

The Association of Professional Shooting Instructors The British Association for Shooting & Conservation Ltd The Clay Pigeon Shooting Association The Gun Trade Association The Nationa…

www.bssc.org.uk

so 15 organisations were involved in forming the scheme. Bravo to the ones not mentioned in such a fanfare as well.