Shotgun Safety Course Essex

[Brad93]

Does anyone know of a shotgun safety course coming up in the Essex or Kent area?

My pal is applying for his SGC via MET and they are now asking for a safety course certificate.

I have been monitoring him, and I'm acting as his referee.

Bisley haven't got a course date lined up.
Fennes want you to do 3 lessons at £80+ each lesson.
I've reached out to dartford clay shooting club.

My friend is a member of the CPSA.

 

[12gsnapcaps]

Another example of forces making up their own rules with no relevance or reference to the law and/or Home Office Guidelines.

It might be worth reaching out to BASC or another shooting org, as the SGC is still a shall issue not a may issue and we need to fight things like this.

 

[Chris Richardson]

ask them where it mentions courses in the HO guidelines

 

[enfieldspares]

I can take him out for free if he comes to Leicestershire. For a hour. Which is more than enough to cover all aspects. As no doubt t can many others. So would the police accept my certification that I had done so?

If no...and. no to anybody else here offering likewise to help I'd ask which course provider's scheme do they accept?

Then ask on what basis is that scheme considered acceptable? Because either some organisation or a other is empire building or has a make money basis.

Both need to be exposed as to how the link between scheme provider and police came about because as others say the law does not require such.

 

[Apex_wws]

As others have pointed out, some the licensing authorities require evidence of competency prior to issuing a license.
Whether you agree with this or not, we have seen this getting a more regular requirement, yes its not mandated HO , but here we are, and I suspect fighting this would be potentially expensive if the Police dig in their heels.
My advice would be to ask the licensing authority what they deem acceptable as evidence of competency. It may be that a couple of hours on a clay ground with an email to the FEO may suffice. Alternatively a CPSA, BASC or LANTRA certificate may hold more water.

We do LANTRA firearm and shotgun 1 day courses, but we are in East Sussex and am sure you can find somewhere closer to home to get this sorted.

 

[Chris Richardson]

As others have pointed out, some the licensing authorities require evidence of competency prior to issuing a license.
Whether you agree with this or not, we have seen this getting a more regular requirement, yes its not mandated HO , but here we are, and I suspect fighting this would be potentially expensive if the Police dig in their heels.
My advice would be to ask the licensing authority what they deem acceptable as evidence of competency. It may be that a couple of hours on a clay ground with an email to the FEO may suffice. Alternatively a CPSA, BASC or LANTRA certificate may hold more water.

We do LANTRA firearm and shotgun 1 day courses, but we are in East Sussex and am sure you can find somewhere closer to home to get this sorted.

So we just put up with extra hoops to jump through which are not mandated by HO guidelines ? Where will that leave us down the road ?

 

[Liveonce]

kent have been playing that game for awhile, if the applicant in their view has very little experience of using a shot gun, ie went clay shooting once and enjoyed it now applying for a SGC.

Fighting it as said is problematic as they would play the public safety card and safety of the applicant.

The risk is it will become like the NRA Shooters certification card, seen as an opportunity by some to make lots of money from the situation.

Any clay ground with a section 11 exemption should be able to provide a “safety course” as part of the introduction to clay shooting and given the police issue the section 11 on the understanding a suitable qualified person is running a bonafide clay ground they should then accept a reference from the ground as evidence of completing the safety course.
Then by returning to the ground/club to gain further experience.

other than that CPSA and BASC i believe run them at various locations around the country.

Can only see this getting more of an issue especially if they do merge section 2 to 1.

 

[timbrayford]

You might equally ask your FEO what specialist qualifications they have pertaining to administering firearms licensing - expect a deafening silence!

 

[Apex_wws]

I think one has to be blind not to see the inconsistencies across the country. The direction of travel for some licensing departments certainly appears to be one of putting barriers in the way of folk applying for their license, and for existing licence holders looking for any reason to suspend or revoke their FAC/SG at the drop of a hat.

Personally, I don't see the harm in insisting newbies get some form of training as part of their application, the authorities just need to agree a reasonable and proportionate standard.

What does stick in my craw slightly is the number of revoked (or voluntarily surrendered) FAC's which are now almost impossibe to get back, even when after investigation there is no case to answer. The stock answer from some licensing authority seems to be "see you in court" This in many cases is pure overreach, bullying and brinkmanship, and all at the expense of us, the taxpayer, and in the full knowledge that to contest this would cost an individual thousands.

Why the shooting organisations aren't jumping all over this is beyond me.

 

[Chris Richardson]

.

Personally, I don't see the harm in insisting newbies get some form of training as part of their application, the authorities just need to agree a reasonable and proportionate standard.

Because its not in HO guidlines and the plod are meant to follow these ? also noteworthy you sell courses and " dont see the harm " .............

 

[Apex_wws]

My persoal opinion......I think I allowed.

 

[Chris Richardson]

My persoal opinion......I think I allowed.

when required courses are in the HO guidelines ill be inclined to agree , till then just an exccuse for the plod to pass the book and someone make a few quid

 

[Morkai]

As others have pointed out, some the licensing authorities require evidence of competency prior to issuing a license.

They are requesting it, they do not require it.

They require refs, payment, med forms, but they do not require a training course to grant.

 

[Chris Richardson]

They are requesting it, they do not require it.

They require refs, payment, med forms, but they do not require a training course to grant.

Thank you

 

[Crowlcat]

didn't the doctors reports start out like this some forces insisting on it then all of a sudden it becomes part of the law just another box ticking exercise

 

[Chris Richardson]

didn't the doctors reports start out like this some forces insisting on it then all of a sudden it becomes part of the law just another box ticking exercise

yes

 

[Morkai]

If they want it for new starters, maybe they should deliver it included in your app costs (no increased cost to the applicant).

Train up their FEO, send them to interview you and check your cabinet etc, they can explain the safety fundamentals.

 

[timbrayford]

Because its not in HO guidlines and the plod are meant to follow these ? also noteworthy you sell courses and " dont see the harm " .............

If we are supposed to be trained the onus is on parliament to decide whether or not this is necessary and set the standards, not amateur FLDs making it up as they go along.

 

[Liveonce]

Personally, I don't see the harm in insisting newbies get some form of training as part of their application, the authorities just need to agree a reasonable and proportionate standard.

it’s potentially a slippery slop, whats next a safety course before you can go hunting? …. no thanks.

And what recognised qualifications do people like you have to be able to teach others that replace equal valid years of experience that many on here have.