BASC delivers specialist training to Cumbria police firearms licensing team

[Conor O'Gorman]

More than 20 members of Cumbria constabulary’s firearms licensing team attended a recent awareness day run by BASC.

The training event featured presentations from BASC staff on the use of different firearms, ballistics and antique firearms. The sessions prompted wide-ranging discussion, with particular focus on land checks and certificate conditions.

The visiting staff also had the opportunity to take part in shooting activities, including trying different rifles and clay pigeon shooting.

BASC delivers specialist training to Cumbria police firearms licensing team

More than 20 members of Cumbria police's firearms licensing team attended a recent awareness day run by BASC.

basc.org.uk

 

[Greenmist]

While I commend both BASC and equally Cumbria police for attending, it does smack of paying twice, we've just had a massive and unjustified price hike and now a member supported organisation is providing training

 

[Ronin]

Surely this training is provided during the FEO initial training course before the licencing officer is allowed to go live ?

 

[Klenchblaize]

One can hardly blame them for such a counterintuitive approach when Trump is giving the red carpet treatment to Putin and Starma (rightly or wrongly) has arranged a 2nd UK State Visit for the former!

K

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

While I commend both BASC and equally Cumbria police for attending, it does smack of paying twice, we've just had a massive and unjustified price hike and now a member supported organisation is providing training

If it leads to greater understanding in that force about shooting discipines and firearms licensing based on BASC's nationwide experience and also resulting in improved constructive working relationships when it comes to issues arising on firearms licensing is that a bad thing? I don't see any downsides TBH it's a good use of BASC time and resources in my book.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Surely this training is provided during the FEO initial training course before the licencing officer is allowed to go live ?

Yes, but the quality of that training is hit and miss and that is why BASC has been pushing for nationwide training programmes to set criteria. which is being rolled out, and BASC also continues to help forces with its own experience - which benefits all cert holders - BASC members or not.

 

[User00056]

If it leads to greater understanding in that force about shooting discipines and firearms licensing based on BASC's nationwide experience and also resulting in improved constructive working relationships when it comes to issues arising on firearms licensing is that a bad thing? I don't see any downsides TBH it's a good use of BASC time and resources in my book.

Why not roll out a general training program nationwide? I'd certainly be prepared to support BASC in this. It'd certainly be a move in the right direction to ensure consistency

 

[Greenmist]

Yes, but the quality of that training is hit and miss and that is why BASC has been pushing for nationwide training programmes to set criteria. which is being rolled out, and BASC also continues to help forces with its own experience - which benefits all cert holders - BASC members or not.

Will you suggest refresher training, ohhh lets see, say every five years, and possibly a medical check to ensure they're suitable to carry out the job

 

[Ronin]

Yes, but the quality of that training is hit and miss and that is why BASC has been pushing for nationwide training programmes to set criteria. which is being rolled out, and BASC also continues to help forces with its own experience - which benefits all cert holders - BASC members or not.

Basc is asking for a national training programme ?

Isn’t there a standardised training programme for feo across the 43 forces anyway ?

Wouldn’t organisations be better served attempting to have implemented standardised working practices within the licencing departments and applying Home Office guidelines on Firearms Licencing instead of the ad hoc system that there is at the moment

Similarly and on a separate note wouldn’t Basc and the other organisations / charities involved in delivering DSC1 training consider raising the bar for standards that have plummeted in for example the DSC shooting test which is a joke at the moment

 

[Taff]

Surely this training is provided during the FEO initial training course before the licencing officer is allowed to go live ?

Just like here I doubt if, apart from the county’s opinion of how licensing should be handled nothing else matters.

 

[cjm1066]

Not many years ago it was the local plod who handled visits. I recall 2x WPC visiting who knew how to spell gun and were terrified of getting the report wrong as their segegent wouldn't be happy.

Specialist FEO should be an improvement, and BASC or another shooting organisation is more likely to deliver a balanced training program that some Police devised one.

 

[Liveonce]

Specialist FEO should be an improvement, and BASC or another shooting organisation is more likely to deliver a balanced training program that some Police devised one.

is that not part of the purpose of the college of policing? Surly BASC and others should ensure a standard nationwide course with say a five year refresher delivered by the college of policing.

https://www.college.police.uk/

 

[markj1]

I agree with those who think that the BASC providing training to FEOs is a positive move, but I also agree that it's hit-and-miss because it's a one-off training, for one police force. I can only hope that this will prove to be a pilot and a blueprint for others to follow.

Firstly, police forces will train their FEOs in what is important to them. I don't see the BASC training as replacing it, but as complimenting it with those things that are important to shooters that their FEOs know.

Then, it's about maintaining a positive relationship beyween the BASC and the various local police forces. It's never a bad idea for FEOs to see that there are sensible, decent, law-abiding human beings on the receiving end of the service that the FEOs provide.

 

[nun_hunter]

is that not part of the purpose of the college of policing? Surly BASC and others should ensure a standard nationwide course with say a five year refresher delivered by the college of policing.

https://www.college.police.uk/

The CoP is an organisation that produces their own version of training that already exists to justify their existence.

This is why when police officers leave the job they have no directly transferable qualifications and can struggle to find appropriate work.

You could disband the CoP and just use existing industry recognised training qualifications and save millions.

BASC helping out to provide a more balanced training programme and no doubt a different perspective is a good idea based on my previous experience of the CoP.

 

[markj1]

...BASC helping out to provide a more balanced training programme and no doubt a different perspective is a good idea....

I fully agree.

 

[M@tt]

More than 20 members of Cumbria constabulary’s firearms licensing team attended a recent awareness day run by BASC.

The training event featured presentations from BASC staff on the use of different firearms, ballistics and antique firearms. The sessions prompted wide-ranging discussion, with particular focus on land checks and certificate conditions.

The visiting staff also had the opportunity to take part in shooting activities, including trying different rifles and clay pigeon shooting.

BASC delivers specialist training to Cumbria police firearms licensing team

More than 20 members of Cumbria police's firearms licensing team attended a recent awareness day run by BASC.

basc.org.uk

Now come to Beds/Cambs/Herts.

In my experience, it is not necessarily the FEOs that need the educating, but the decision makers at the top end. They make the policies that shape how the force deals with the licensing process, and this seems to be the trouble in BCH.

 

[8x57]

Now come to Beds/Cambs/Herts.

In my experience, it is not necessarily the FEOs that need the educating, but the decision makers at the top end. They make the policies that shape how the force deals with the licensing process, and this seems to be the trouble in BCH.

That may be what the NGO is hoping to achieve with the National Firearms Licensing conference on November 12th.

 

[M@tt]

That may be what the NGO is hoping to achieve with the National Firearms Licensing conference on November 12th.

I hope so.

We had a meeting back in February with the FLD and many promises and assurances were made. No evidence of any of them actually working yet despite all the extra staff enlisted.

And despite all the extra funds being taken from us, BCH still haven't confirmed if any of it will be used for actually improving the service provided.

 

[Demetrius]

I think NRA Bisley did something similar earlier this year, in an effort to educate new FEO's.

D.

 

[Buchan]

Similarly and on a separate note wouldn’t Basc and the other organisations / charities involved in delivering DSC1 training consider raising the bar for standards that have plummeted in for example the DSC shooting test which is a joke at the moment

Absolutely. The addition of the head shot was wise, but reducing the total number of shots was not. I have yet to see a logical reason for this from DMQ, BDS or BASC.