Open Ticket Variation (Essex)

[georgedoubleyou]

Hi All,

I've had my FAC for a little over one year. At the initial home visit, I asked for an open ticket but I was told by the FEO that the policy within Essex Police is that a person has to have had their FAC for a minimum of one year before they will "open" it.

Now that it's been a year, I emailed the Essex Police firearms department requesting that condition to be changed due to the fact that in the time I've had my certificate I have gained a couple more permissions on shooting estates and have been asked by two farmers to help with foxes. (I haven't gone to either of these farmers' places yet due to the fact that I'm on a closed ticket).

They've asked me to send my certificate back to them so they can "make an assessment" before even agreeing to it.

My question is; what exactly on my certificate do they need to see in person to assess my suitability to open my ticket? surely they already have access to any information that's on the certificate(?) They also can't give me a timeframe of how long I'll be without it, meaning that I won't be able to buy any ammunition and I wouldn't be able to produce it if I were to be stopped.

I'd be interested to see if anyone else has been through this and been asked the same.

Thanks in advance

 

[T.eddie]

When I had my variation for open conditions I didn't send my ticket until it was agreed, doesn't make sense to send it if they aren't going to do it and there shouldn't be anything on the ticket that they can't see on their systems. Perhaps worth a phone call to check as I would have thought they would be more interested on the pieces of land and confirmation your allowed to shoot there

 

[georgedoubleyou]

When I had my variation for open conditions I didn't send my ticket until it was agreed, doesn't make sense to send it if they aren't going to do it and there shouldn't be anything on the ticket that they can't see on their systems. Perhaps worth a phone call to check as I would have thought they would be more interested on the pieces of land and confirmation your allowed to shoot there

I agree. I'll give them a call!

 

[VSS]

Hi All,

I've had my FAC for a little over one year. At the initial home visit, I asked for an open ticket but I was told by the FEO that the policy within Essex Police is that a person has to have had their FAC for a minimum of one year before they will "open" it.

Now that it's been a year, I emailed the Essex Police firearms department requesting that condition to be changed due to the fact that in the time I've had my certificate I have gained a couple more permissions on shooting estates and have been asked by two farmers to help with foxes. (I haven't gone to either of these farmers' places yet due to the fact that I'm on a closed ticket).

They've asked me to send my certificate back to them so they can "make an assessment" before even agreeing to it.

My question is; what exactly on my certificate do they need to see in person to assess my suitability to open my ticket? surely they already have access to any information that's on the certificate(?) They also can't give me a timeframe of how long I'll be without it, meaning that I won't be able to buy any ammunition and I wouldn't be able to produce it if I were to be stopped.

I'd be interested to see if anyone else has been through this and been asked the same.

Thanks in advance

Probably wanting to check your ammunition purchases, to get an idea of how much you're using your rifles, and therefore how much experience you've gained in a year.

 

[georgedoubleyou]

Probably wanting to check your ammunition purchases, to get an idea of how much you're using your rifles, and therefore how much experience you've gained in a year.

Would they not be able to access that info electronically without my certificate, or is it entirely paper-based?

 

[VSS]

Would they not be able to access that info electronically without my certificate, or is it entirely paper-based?

There would be no electronic record if you'd bought ammo from another FAC holder. They just enter it on your certificate. I don't know how it works with purchases from an RFD.

 

[Rob-E]

I’ve found Essex very very good. With variations arriving back within days of them receiving my certificate.
I know some RFDs in Essex are still very paper based and so I imagine they are checking your ammo purchases, if not already thinking about opening up your ticket.

 

[georgedoubleyou]

I’ve found Essex very very good. With variations arriving back within days of them receiving my certificate.
I know some RFDs in Essex are still very paper based and so I imagine they are checking your ammo purchases, if not already thinking about opening up your ticket.

My experience has been brilliant with them so far. My grant took 19 days from me applying for it to me having it my hand and I had a variation for an FAC air rifle which only took a week. Certainly no complaints from me! I was just curious if this was normal as it seems every FAC holder is told something different

 

[Tim.243]

Hi All,

I've had my FAC for a little over one year. At the initial home visit, I asked for an open ticket but I was told by the FEO that the policy within Essex Police is that a person has to have had their FAC for a minimum of one year before they will "open" it.

Now that it's been a year, I emailed the Essex Police firearms department requesting that condition to be changed due to the fact that in the time I've had my certificate I have gained a couple more permissions on shooting estates and have been asked by two farmers to help with foxes. (I haven't gone to either of these farmers' places yet due to the fact that I'm on a closed ticket).

They've asked me to send my certificate back to them so they can "make an assessment" before even agreeing to it.

My question is; what exactly on my certificate do they need to see in person to assess my suitability to open my ticket? surely they already have access to any information that's on the certificate(?) They also can't give me a timeframe of how long I'll be without it, meaning that I won't be able to buy any ammunition and I wouldn't be able to produce it if I were to be stopped.

I'd be interested to see if anyone else has been through this and been asked the same.

Thanks in advance

Have you read the guidance notes as those are what forces use setting out all to do with firearms.

Guide on firearms licensing law (accessible)

www.gov.uk

 

[Tim.243]

My experience has been brilliant with them so far. My grant took 19 days from me applying for it to me having it my hand and I had a variation for an FAC air rifle which only took a week. Certainly no complaints from me! I was just curious if this was normal as it seems every FAC holder is told something different

So to add to you post count have you read the notes prior to asking on here?

 

[georgedoubleyou]

Have you read the guidance notes as those are what forces use setting out all to do with firearms.

Guide on firearms licensing law (accessible)

www.gov.uk

It all seems to be in line with what I was told, my question was more about them requesting my certificate back before they make that judgement of whether I'm suitable to have the the conditions opened up. As others have said, it's probably them wanting to see my ammo purchase history, which makes sense to me now.

Having had a look at my certificate, I've bought 140 bullets since having it. Some of those, of course, would have been used for zeroing but I've shot aound 70 foxes and as of this weekend just gone, 1 muntjac!

 

[Tim.243]

It all seems to be in line with what I was told, my question was more about them requesting my certificate back before they make that judgement of whether I'm suitable to have the the conditions opened up. As others have said, it's probably them wanting to see my ammo purchase history, which makes sense to me now.

Having had a look at my certificate, I've bought 140 bullets since having it. Some of those, of course, would have been used for zeroing but I've shot aound 70 foxes and as of this weekend just gone, 1 muntjac!

Good luck.

 

[georgedoubleyou]

So to add to you post count have you read the notes prior to asking on here?

I have indeed. Although nothing in the link you've sent me has answered my question on if its its standard procedure for them to request my certificate back before detemining whether I've demonstrated competence or, indeed, how they determine competence in general.

 

[Pellet Pinger]

If they have asked you to send your certificate in then my guess they are happy to open it.
I’d be down the post office in the morning!

 

[bullet chucker]

To alter/open it, they have to have your current certificate in front of them. Include a short note with your Certificate explaining the reason you are returning it to them. Also if' not already on your ticket include ZEROING no reason to restrict your self.

BC.

 

[Tim.243]

I have indeed. Although nothing in the link you've sent me has answered my question on if its its standard procedure for them to request my certificate back before detemining whether I've demonstrated competence or, indeed, how they determine competence in general.

The part "there is no set time limit" that is why it is called guidance.
All the people I know put in a covering letter with the variation stating why they need a condition change.

 

[Brad93]

Hi All,

I've had my FAC for a little over one year. At the initial home visit, I asked for an open ticket but I was told by the FEO that the policy within Essex Police is that a person has to have had their FAC for a minimum of one year before they will "open" it.

Now that it's been a year, I emailed the Essex Police firearms department requesting that condition to be changed due to the fact that in the time I've had my certificate I have gained a couple more permissions on shooting estates and have been asked by two farmers to help with foxes. (I haven't gone to either of these farmers' places yet due to the fact that I'm on a closed ticket).

They've asked me to send my certificate back to them so they can "make an assessment" before even agreeing to it.

My question is; what exactly on my certificate do they need to see in person to assess my suitability to open my ticket? surely they already have access to any information that's on the certificate(?) They also can't give me a timeframe of how long I'll be without it, meaning that I won't be able to buy any ammunition and I wouldn't be able to produce it if I were to be stopped.

I'd be interested to see if anyone else has been through this and been asked the same.

Thanks in advance

Just get the new farmers land cleared.

What part of essex are you in?

 

[georgedoubleyou]

The part "there is no set time limit" that is why it is called guidance.
All the people I know put in a covering letter with the variation stating why they need a condition change.

I understand that entirely, but that’s not what my question is. I was asking if it’s normal for them to request the certificate to be sent to them before making that judgement. When I put a variation in for an additional rifle, they approved it, then they asked that I send my certificate back to them before they’d issue the new one.

My covering letter outlining the justification for opening my ticket was all included in the email that was sent directly to the FEO that covers my postcode and who first granted me the FAC a year ago. I have it in writing from him that the Essex police policy is a minimum of one year before they’d consider it (in response to me asking for an open ticket from the start). However, he did also say a couple of things that I wasn’t sure were entirely correct at my home visit regarding storage and the use of my rifle on land that wasn’t cleared by police but I didn’t want to rock the boat so I kept my mouth shut.

 

[Rake Aboot]

At least this is one load of crap we don’t have to deal with in Scotland

 

[Tim.243]

At least this is one load of crap we don’t have to deal with in Scotland

Yes but you have the midges and a good chance of having to. About time lol