New gun or rifle and your duty to notify your Police force

[Virbius]

You are correct, the certificates both FAC & SGC put a 7 day notification limit for firearm/shotgun disposals but no specific time limit on notifying of acquisitions, but you are nevertheless obliged to do so.

I think that I will leave it for others to discuss with their FLD's about the timeliness of the latter notification, presumably if they think that you have omitted to inform them as required they could revoke if so minded.

atb Tim

Agreed - another oddity in the legislation. No specific timeline for the certificate holder to notify yet the RFD must within 7 days. Even change of address is just 'without undue delay'.

 

[Serky]

Just a quick email (buying or selling) to Kent Police with relevant details on it, job done.

 

[billh]

This is a copy of the current 2013 Firearms Guidance To Police.

5.17 Section 33 of the 1997 Act requires that, within seven days of the transaction, the transferor
and transferee must send, electronically (for example, by e-mail or fax) or by recorded or
special delivery, notification to the chief officers of police who issued their own certificates.
The transferor is the person who originally possessed the gun, and the transferee is the
recipient (and it is the transferor who must write the details of the gun and its transfer onto
the certificate of the transferee). The notice of the transaction must contain a description
of the firearm or shot gun (including any identification number), state the nature of the
transaction and give the name and address of the other person concerned.

 

[270Buck]

My police force has an online system. Whereby I can notify via their website, you get an automatic e mail back from them as proof you sent the information.

As others have said, it states on my FAC that I need to notify for any transfer of firearms, whether I buy or sell.

 

[LeftHandGuy]

It is worth saying as well that if you buy out of your home police area, the RFD/seller only has an requirement to inform their licensing force, so even if they tell you that they are sending details of the sale you will still need to inform your police force. Fortunately as some others on this thread have said it is now pretty easy to inform them by email - just ask them to confirm that they need nothing further from you and you're safe.

 

[THE STALKER]

I always inform the Police with in 7 days.

 

[Plymouth Gin]

It is worth saying as well that if you buy out of your home police area, the RFD/seller only has an requirement to inform their licensing force, so even if they tell you that they are sending details of the sale you will still need to inform your police force. Fortunately as some others on this thread have said it is now pretty easy to inform them by email - just ask them to confirm that they need nothing further from you and you're safe.

No, that's not right . Dealers are supposed to notify the force which issued the certificate to the buyer. The GTA put out a list of all FLD addresses to their members to facilitate this.

 

[ferretmanabu]

In Gloucestershire, the accompanying letter you get with your FAC, specifically states an email address which can be used to notify. I have used this before and had no problems. I did ask for them to reply back acknowldeging receipt of the email, but they they never did. I didn't chase it any further as the email will remain in my "sent" folder forever.

 

[LeftHandGuy]

No, that's not right . Dealers are supposed to notify the force which issued the certificate to the buyer. The GTA put out a list of all FLD addresses to their members to facilitate this.

OK, that's useful to know, I was just going on what RFDs have said to me on purchasing from them. However, I have always sent confirmation myself, and always will. And to be fair both Kent and Sussex have acknowledged by email that they have the details of the change.

 

[Ray7756]

I always go to the police station and hand in the notification personally, when i bought my 22-250 from Bushwear they give you the form all filled in and with a post paid envelope,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, SORRY but i have had to many Fkups from Royal Snail that i would not trust them, some mates just inform them by email, but call me old fashioned , I still go into the police firearms dept and hand in the forms immediately after any gun purchase,
first i take the gun home and lock it away, then of to the police

 

[billh]

Plymouth Gin. You are incorrect, see the FA Amendment Act section below:

Notification of transfers involving firearms.

​

(1).This section applies anywhere in Great Britain

​

(a) any firearm to which section 1 of the 1968 Act applies is sold, let on hire, lent or given;

​

(b) any shot gun is sold, let on hire or given, or lent for a period of more than 72 hours.

​

(2) Any party to a transfer to which this section applies who is the holder of a firearm or shot gun certificate or, as the case may be, a visitor’s firearm or shot gun permit which relates to the firearm in question shall within seven days of the transfer give notice to the chief officer of police who granted his certificate or permit.

​

(3) A notice required by subsection (2) above shall—

​

(a) contain a description of the firearm in question (giving its identification number if any); and

​

(b) state the nature of the transaction and the name and address of the other party;
and any such notice shall be sent by registered post or the recorded delivery service.

​

(4) A failure by a party to a transaction to which this section applies to give the notice required by this section shall be an offence.

______________

It clearly states in (2) that any person involved in a transfer must inform his SGC/FAC issuing force of the transfer.

If the GTA have another arrangement that is not Law its just a nice to have.

 

[Rake Aboot]

I always used to hand deliver but now only use the email system. Much simpler and they seem to be happy with it, so why not.

 

[L1A1]

Just received my FAC back from a variation, it is in the new format, it makes no mention on the certificate about the holder notifying their issuing force when they receive a firearm. But the Firearms guidance notes state that both parties to a transaction must notify there local force.
This is possibly causing the confusion, with the FAC notes not telling people that they must notify their force.