North Wales Police FAC application

Druid

Well-Known Member
I have a friend in the north Wales police area looking to apply for his FAC, has a permission with fox, wants to do paid stalks and do DSC.

Does anybody have any experience of what sort of calibre north wales may accept on initial application as 1 rifle for all? Would .308 of .270 be viable or would he get knocked back to the .243 as I expect.

Don't need this to become a 'which calibre is best' thread please:)
Just wondering what north Wales are like with this sort of scenario.

Thanks.
 
North Wales are superb. Why settle for less than you need? Every calibre is 'as dangerous' as the next, if he can justify a .308 as he may be going on the reds as well as roe, then apply for a .308 and back it up with a booking on the reds. North Wales Police are evidence based, if you have a need, have the evidence like a reference etc on paper to submit with the application he should have no issues. Where the issue would be is if he wanted a .308 but only had permission for foxes and no bookings for stalking and no evidence of experience. Has he ever used a .308? A reference from someone who has one and he has used this rifle would also go down well.

Where NWP have an issue is someone wanting a calibre with no justification or evidence.
 
I think that your expectation of .243 is the most likely outcome.

Sorry Uncle Norm I can see where you are coming from but I can't see why anyone should accept that policy which has been common with so many constabularies in the past. We all know that in general one calibre is no safer or no more dangerous than another. I don't see why a new shooter should be restricted to say a .243win when they really would rather have a .308win for example.
After all both are listed as suitable calibres for deer in the guidance document. Any objections to such a calibre should always be requested to be put in writing so that the applicant can forward to their shooting association.
 
I think that your expectation of .243 is the most likely outcome.

This does seem to be the default with some departments but with plans to head off to Scotland at some stage he doesn't really want to be buying another rifle at a later stage. I have come across the same issues myself with calibres crossing into another 'band' (being .5mm larger than they were happy with!!)
he has good military experience, though that seems to count for little in these things, but not CF rifles for hunting.

just wanted to ascertain whether the '1 rifle for everything' or the allow you 'just enough gun' attitude was the case with North Wales.
 
243 was my first calibre and was granted open,I now more access to stalking and in a few more syndicates,I have two 270's along with the 243.
I know of close friends with 308 ans 243.
North wales are extremely helpful,and a pleasure to deal with.
The flo is a nice guy and very easy to talk to.
 
Tell your mate to make sure the land he can shoot fox on is cleared for the caliber he applies for!

I have a closed cert and can't shoot my c/f rifles on a farm I have permission on.
 
Sorry Uncle Norm I can see where you are coming from but I can't see why anyone should accept that policy which has been common with so many constabularies in the past. We all know that in general one calibre is no safer or no more dangerous than another. I don't see why a new shooter should be restricted to say a .243win when they really would rather have a .308win for example.
After all both are listed as suitable calibres for deer in the guidance document. Any objections to such a calibre should always be requested to be put in writing so that the applicant can forward to their shooting association.
I agree with your comments, however I would not put money on anything other than a .243 being granted for deer and fox, particularly on a first application. Hope burns eternal and it will be interesting to hear the outcome. I have no recent experience of N. Wales.
 
A mate of mine in north wales has been granted a .243 for fox only he did ask foor deer to be added but was told to go and get some stalking booked and they will add deer to his ticket. He has shot with his .222 for years . So no proof no deer on ticket like stalker .308 says
 
I have a friend in the north Wales police area looking to apply for his FAC, has a permission with fox, wants to do paid stalks and do DSC.

Does anybody have any experience of what sort of calibre north wales may accept on initial application as 1 rifle for all? Would .308 of .270 be viable or would he get knocked back to the .243 as I expect.

Don't need this to become a 'which calibre is best' thread please:)
Just wondering what north Wales are like with this sort of scenario.

Thanks.
they gave me a 243 for fox on probs but had to book a day stalking to have deer put on it
 
If he can prove a need he won't have any issues, my wife gained .22rf, .223, .243 & .308 on first issue due to red deer and gained an open ticket with AOLQ on all due to other ground and quarry.
 
North Wales are superb. Why settle for less than you need? Every calibre is 'as dangerous' as the next, if he can justify a .308 as he may be going on the reds as well as roe, then apply for a .308 and back it up with a booking on the reds. North Wales Police are evidence based, if you have a need, have the evidence like a reference etc on paper to submit with the application he should have no issues. Where the issue would be is if he wanted a .308 but only had permission for foxes and no bookings for stalking and no evidence of experience. Has he ever used a .308? A reference from someone who has one and he has used this rifle would also go down well.

Where NWP have an issue is someone wanting a calibre with no justification or evidence.

+1 on the above - they are superb! Except to add that I got deer on my ticket for .243 (in addition to fox and feral goat) at first application for a centrefire rifle (I had only had rimfire beforehand) with only the scantiest of evidence, viz, "I once went stalking with a guy off the Stalking Directory, and hope to go again one day!". No names, no written evidence, just my word for it. Open ticket too!
 
North Wales used to have a bad reputation but my recent experience is that they have totally turned this round and are a pleasure to deal with. As an example I recently wanted to buy a new .270 but didn't want a forced sale of my current .270, NWP gave me a temporary slot for an extra .270 to allow me to hold both for up to six months, when I queried it in conversation with the FLO he also realised that to have fox on my .243 and not the .270 was silly and immediately added fox to the bigger calibre with no issues at all.
 
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