BASC updates on firearms licensing fees hike

[Conor O'Gorman]

The latest BASC podcast provides an in-depth review of what BASC is doing on firearms licensing and fees from Christopher Graffius (executive director of communications and public affairs) and Martin Parker (head of firearms).

Click here to listen to the BASC Podcast Episode 56

There are also updates in the latest issue of Shooting Times here:

BASC lobbying PCCs on funds - ShootingUK

Will the fees hike improve licensing? - ShootingUK

There are still two ways you can help:

1. Complete a survey

BASC has put together a short survey to gather your experiences of the renewal and/or grant application process with your local police force.

Click here to complete a short survey

2. Contact your MP

The proposed increases to firearms licensing fees damage the countryside. You can help by writing to your MP.

Click here to contact your MP

 

[jall55]

Emailed - and asked new MP for site visit with me

 

[jall55]

Survey done

 

[Smellydog]

Done the survey.

 

[paul dillon]

Done

 

[Subsistence]

Have also completed the survey

 

[spurs14]

Survey done

 

[Kyle_hill98]

Done

 

[Yorkie]

Done.
For anyone interested, West Yorks were very good with my recent coterminous renewal. Done on time with little drama.

 

[spurs14]

Glad some forces are doing it ok , doesn’t matter how much money the certification goes up it won’t reach the fac depts , we all know that ! , it’s very low on the police priority and they have already said it will go to tackle knife crime in London !!!! It is so wrong we have to pay for and put up with such a disgraceful service with absolutely no way to complain or get it any better ! We are just told to be quiet be patient and at some point , months even years down the line we may get our certificates!
I’d love to believe this extra money is the magic wand but somehow I doubt it !!

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Glad some forces are doing it ok , doesn’t matter how much money the certification goes up it won’t reach the fac depts , we all know that ! , it’s very low on the police priority and they have already said it will go to tackle knife crime in London !!!! It is so wrong we have to pay for and put up with such a disgraceful service with absolutely no way to complain or get it any better ! We are just told to be quiet be patient and at some point , months even years down the line we may get our certificates!
I’d love to believe this extra money is the magic wand but somehow I doubt it !!

I think we can make a difference if enough of us get involved by simply contacting our MPs. It's having an impact with positive replies about our collective concerns coming into BASC from Conservative, LibDem and Labour MPs.

See also the article below in Farming UK which is also in the Telegraph (behind a paywall) about a group of 50 opposition MPs urging the Home Secretary to have a rethink on the fee hike proposals.

Group of MPs call for government to ditch gun licence fee increases

Labour accused of ‘another attack’ on farmers with shotgun fee rise

Yvette Cooper urged to water down plans for ‘exorbitant’ rise in firearm licence fees

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[spurs14]

If love to think you’re right but I just can’t see it , I’ve wrote to my mp I’ve done the basc survey but the police and firearms depts are a law unto themselves we don’t have any way to chase up check up or even complain about the service we receive ! They simply blame it on staff shortages and a huge back log
I have been waiting nine months for an fac application to go through , emails go unanswered , no way to check on what is happening, email pccc , they simply say they are waiting for a response from th he fac dept , in no other aspect in life or business would a paying customer have to put up with this kind of service , yes a large cash injection would help by taking in more staff but as I said our sport is very low on the police radar so I feel that money will disappear into other areas !

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

If love to think you’re right but I just can’t see it , I’ve wrote to my mp I’ve done the basc survey but the police and firearms depts are a law unto themselves we don’t have any way to chase up check up or even complain about the service we receive ! They simply blame it on staff shortages and a huge back log
I have been waiting nine months for an fac application to go through , emails go unanswered , no way to check on what is happening, email pccc , they simply say they are waiting for a response from th he fac dept , in no other aspect in life or business would a paying customer have to put up with this kind of service , yes a large cash injection would help by taking in more staff but as I said our sport is very low on the police radar so I feel that money will disappear into other areas !

Many thanks for getting involved in the campaign and I understand your frustration, shared by so many others, and this is where pressure from BASC comes into play at force level because we are pushing Police and Crime Commissioners to ensure their firearms licensing departments are properly resourced and things are improving but much more progress needed. This stems from the PCC elections last year and now with the fees hike justified as full cost recovery there are no more excuses or hiding places and the responses from PCCs and Chief Constables to our follow-ups to the fee hikes announcement will be telling. The following article provides some context:

Will the fees hike improve licensing? - ShootingUK

ShootingUK News - Will the fees hike improve licensing?

www.shootinguk.co.uk

 

[Andrewslater]

My personal experiences with kent police firearms department have been positive throughout. I always ensure documents are delivered in the format they prefer and keep good records. My most recent renewal in jan 2024 was hassle free although I did get my completed paperwork in early allowing plenty of time for any issues to be ironed down out.

I am not concerned about the price increases and feel they are proportionate to how other costs and services have risen. I appreciate this may be another blow to those with less disposable income, but we need to be realistic and recognise the costs involved in running such departments.

 

[spurs14]

I don’t think the majority of shooters are concerned that much with the price increase , it’s a huge one in some cases and they havnt let it known how these figures were arrived upon ?
What people are disgusted by is this huge increase coming on top of an absolutely disgrace service in most cases and with no guarantee that this money will be used to sort this mess out !
The other thing that has people pulling their hair out is the fact that some forces are turning round grants /applications in 6/8 weeks while some are up to 2 years , why ? How ?
I’m sorry if this comes over as a rant but as a paying customer I like to feel that I am getting some sort of value for my money especially for something I feel passionate about and enjoy doing

 

[charlie222]

@Conor O'Gorman I've had a reply from Derbyshire PPC. Do you have an email I can forward it to, please?

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

@Conor O'Gorman I've had a reply from Derbyshire PPC. Do you have an email I can forward it to, please?

Thank you. Please send to politics@basc.org.uk

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Government’s justification for firearms fees increase ‘bogus’, says BASC

BASC wrote to all Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables in England and Wales, who are responsible for setting police budgets, to ask for assurances that funds raised will be used to resource their firearms licensing departments.

On the day the new fees came into effect, Wednesday 5 February, only seven out of 42 constabularies had committed to guaranteeing the funds would go towards improving firearms licensing.

Christopher Graffius, BASC’s executive director of communications and public affairs, said: “The government’s justification for the increase is that the extra funds raised will go to support the work of firearms licensing departments, although it has no powers to ensure this happens.

“If they cannot guarantee that the money from fee increases will improve the system, then the government’s reasoning for a 133 per cent hike in firearms fees is bogus. People will be paying more for a service that continues to be inefficient.

“Inefficient licensing puts guns in the hands of the wrong people, it puts public safety at risk.”

Government's justification for firearms fees increase 'bogus', says BASC

On the day new firearms fees came into effect, just seven of 42 constabularies had confirmed funds would go to improving firearms licensing.

basc.org.uk

 

[Elshad]

A median point should be set at 6 months (for a grant). For every month after this, the applicant should be refunded £25 per month of delay until a decision is made. This seems like a fair way to implement "full cost recovery" whilst holding the more shambolic forces to account.

 

[Liveonce]

“Inefficient licensing puts guns in the hands of the wrong people, it puts public safety at risk.”

Do you have any actual examples of this, in which no other factors were involved.

Plymouth for example., let the perpetrator keep his guns after fighting in a public place and gave them back after doing an anger management course. Is that the fault of inefficient licencing or a complete failure by the Police in general.
Makes for interstate reading.

https://tgchambers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/KEYHAM-INQUESTS-Combined-PFD-reports-1.pdf